State declares Level 3 drought, Groton bans outdoor water use
GROTON — The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has declared a Level 3 Critical Drought for Groton, triggering a ban on non-essential outdoor water use effective immediately, according to a press release posted on the town website.
TOWN HALL
The town's most pressing announcement centers on water: the state has designated Groton as being in Level 3 Critical Drought status, and town officials have responded by banning non-essential outdoor water use for all residents and businesses. Residents are directed to the Groton Water Department's website, grotonwater.org, for detailed guidance on the restrictions and related PFAS/PFOS testing updates that the department has been tracking.
Separately, the town has posted an update on the annual fireworks celebration, though full details of the update were not available in this cycle. Residents planning to attend should watch for further announcements from the town.
On the fiscal side, the Town of Groton confirmed that, effective May 1, 2026, the real estate tax demand fee will rise to $30, the state-authorized maximum under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 60, Section 15. The town says the change reflects periodic review of fees to ensure they match the cost of administering overdue payment notices.
The town also continues to flag major infrastructure work, including the Squannacook River Dam repair project and the Chicopee Row water main construction project, both of which have supporting documents and presentations posted to the town's website for residents who want details on scope and timeline.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS
"Thomas Kane Obituary - Phillipston, MA (1954-2026)" — The Lowell Sun reports that Thomas "Tommy" Kane, 71, who was originally from Forge Village Road in Groton, passed away suddenly on July 4, 2026, according to an obituary distributed via Google Alerts (read it at https://www.lowellsun.com/obituaries/thomas-kane-phillipston-ma/).
"Thomas Kane Obituary (2026) - Westford, MA" — A companion notice via Legacy.com, surfaced through Google Alerts, lists Kane's survivors including family in Groton and Westford. (read it at https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/thomas-kane-obituary?id=61927256)
COMING UP
Residents should watch the Groton Water Department's site for updates on the duration of the Level 3 drought restrictions, and monitor the town homepage for the promised update on the annual fireworks celebration schedule. The new $30 real estate tax demand fee takes effect May 1, 2026, for any overdue payment notices issued on or after that date.