North Andover residents can no longer water their lawns, wash cars outside or fill swimming pools.

The North Andover Water Department announced Tuesday, Sept. 1, that it is activating outdoor water use restrictions under Town Bylaw Chapter 185 because of low water levels at Lake Cochichewick. The ban covers all non-essential outdoor water use, including outdoor spray irrigation systems, outdoor vehicle washing and pool filling.

The restrictions take effect immediately and will remain in place until the lake returns to normal levels, according to the department. No end date was given.

Lake Cochichewick is the sole drinking water source for North Andover's roughly 28,000 residents. The 560-acre reservoir, the largest lake in Essex County, sits within a 2,700-acre watershed that includes about 800 property parcels, according to the town.

The Water Department's announcement did not include specific lake level data or say how far below normal the water has fallen.

Different rules, different water source

North Andover's restrictions operate under a separate legal framework from the drought rules affecting neighboring Andover. Andover draws its water from the Merrimack River and was downgraded to a state-mandated Level 2 Significant Drought designation on Aug. 7, according to the town's water restrictions page. That designation bans most outdoor watering but still allows drip irrigation and hand watering of gardens.

North Andover's bylaw-based ban does not specify whether drip irrigation or hand watering is exempt. The announcement prohibits "outdoor spray irrigation systems" and "all non-essential outdoor water use" but does not define what qualifies as essential.

Enforcement details pending

The Water Department has not announced penalties for violations. The full text of Chapter 185 was not available for review. No spokesperson was named in the department's announcement, and no public comment from town officials accompanied the notice.

Details are available on the Water Department's announcement page.