HAVERHILL — Kenoza Lake’s water level is at about 99.3 feet, roughly 10 feet below its average level for this time of year as Haverhill faces its latest and most severe stage of a drought that has persisted for nearly two years.
The city has officially entered the “critical drought” zone, Haverhill Department of Public Works Director Robert Ward told the City Council on Tuesday.
Officials are working to conserve the city’s remaining water supply and pursue additional sources, as the critical level introduces new restrictions on use.
As for the broader northeast region of Massachusetts, the area remains in a less severe drought category in general. As of Sept. 10, the state’s Drought Management Task Force had classified the Northeast region as Level 1, or “mild drought.”
Haverhill’s water situation is judged largely by conditions at Kenoza Lake, the city’s primary reservoir. The drought dates back to November 2024, and water levels have risen and fallen since then without recovering enough to return to normal, Ward said.
The lake is now at about 99.3 feet, while its full level is about 114 feet, and the 36-year average for September is just under 110 feet.
“That’s the lowest it’s been in my 31 years here,” Ward said.
He added that Haverhill received some much-needed rainfall last spring, allowing the city to raise Kenoza Lake to about 112 feet — a level he described as “close to full.” But that recovery did not last.
Last March, the drought emergency was re-declared, and the conditions continued through the summer.
“Mother nature has not cooperated with us,” Ward said, pointing to the lack of precipitation as the largest reason for current conditions.
So far in 2026, Haverhill has received about 23.5 inches of rainfall. August brought only about 1.3 inches, about one-third of the average rainfall for the month, Ward said.
The critical drought designation brings on more requirements for residents and businesses every time they turn the nozzle. During a Level 3, or critical drought, residents are urged to minimize overall water use, aggressively reduce indoor consumption and stop all nonessential water use.
State guidance includes fixing leaks immediately, shortening showers, running washing machines only with full loads, turning off the faucet while brushing teeth or shaving, and replacing fixtures and appliances with water-efficient models.
All nonessential outdoor water use is now prohibited, but Ward said exceptions include water use for health and safety purposes, public facilities with amenities such as splash pads and public swimming pools, as well as certain uses for the functions of businesses, including nurseries and golf courses.
As of this week, the city has issued about $4,500 in fines and 110 warnings to residents who violated various water-use restrictions, Ward said.
Haverhill has begun pursuing an agreement with Methuen to purchase water and supplement the city’s supply. This effort has been stalled due to the two communities using different chemicals in their water treatment processes, as the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, or DEP, must review and approve the arrangement, Mayor Melinda Barrett said.
Ward said he expects the city to hear from the DEP toward the end of October and stressed that Haverhill needs the supplemental water sooner rather than later.
“That is on the horizon if this drought seems like it is continuing,” Barrett said. “We will have another source of some water, hopefully in the near future.”
For decades, a plan to draw water from the Merrimack River has been in the books, with the purchase of a $1.8 million riverfront property last summer.
The City Council voted in June to acquire a 7.4-acre parcel at 309 East Broadway, with the property intended to support construction of a radial collector well that could produce roughly 6-7 million gallons of water per day.
However, that well may not be fully online until about two years from now, Ward said.
“If we had that, we wouldn’t be looking at those lake pictures today,” he said.
For now, Haverhill remains dependent on its current reservoirs while officials are pouring their effort into both immediate and long-term fixes.