Mayne Island and Westerly impose emergency water restrictions amid drought

The Capital Regional District declared a Stage 4 (critical) water conservation notice for Mayne Island’s Skana Water System, prohibiting all outdoor water use and limiting indoor use to drinking, food preparation and sanitation. The restriction affects roughly 50 households that rely on a well‑field and treatment system, as the island’s aquifers have not been recharged by rainfall.

In Westerly, Rhode Island, town officials introduced a short‑term ban on lawn watering, car washes and pool fills after the municipal system experienced a sudden drop in water pressure. The loss was linked to a leak at Misquamicut State Beach and a subsequent unidentified pressure drop, prompting a $100 fine for violations while crews repair the problem.