Westford Activates Stage III Water Ban as Heat Advisory Runs Through Friday Evening
WESTFORD — The Water Department's Stage III outdoor water restrictions — the department's strictest tier — remain in full effect Friday alongside a heat advisory running through Friday evening, giving residents a demanding close to the week just as town summer programs are about to kick off.
TOWN HALL
The Water Department moved to Stage III after sustained excessive non-essential water demand pushed usage beyond acceptable levels. Stage III is the highest restriction level and bans non-essential outdoor watering; residents should confirm the specific terms and any permitted exceptions at westfordma.gov.
A separate heat advisory, issued through Friday evening, June 12, remained in effect through the afternoon, prompting residents to limit unnecessary time outdoors during peak heat hours.
Saturday, June 13 brings a one-day-only Household Hazardous Waste Collection at the Westford Recycling Center. Residents have a single window to safely dispose of paints, solvents, pesticides, and similar materials — full details are at westfordma.gov.
The Recreation Department posted its summer update Friday, describing June and July programs as "coming real soon." A full schedule is expected to appear on the town site shortly. Separately, the town has a vacancy on the Planning Board and is also seeking community members willing to support elections and town meetings — both volunteer opportunities are posted on the News Flash page. A 2026 Community Input Survey on arts, culture, and community programming is open to all residents.
COMMUNITY & ARTS
J.V. Fletcher Library has launched its 2026 Summer Reading program under the theme "Plant a Seed, Read!" with tracks for children, teens, and adults. The program runs through the summer at the library's temporary location at 515 Groton Road.
The library's next featured event is a virtual talk Monday, June 15, from 7 to 8 p.m. on Zoom: author Rachel Hartigan presents "Virtual-Lost: Amelia Earhart's Three Mysterious Deaths and One Extraordinary Life." Registration is available at westfordlibrary.org. Note that the library will be closed Friday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS
Westford Patch's Friday morning digest, "🌱 Patch AM: Household Hazardous Waste Collection and 12 more events," highlights this weekend's HHW drop-off — a story the town's own News Flash also covered — alongside more than a dozen community events on the Patch calendar, per Westford Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/westford).
Patch also flagged a funding question Thursday in "🌱 Patch AM: How much new road money could Westford see from Beacon Hill?" — the item points to potential state transportation dollars flowing to the town from the Legislature, per Westford Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/westford).
COMING UP
- **Saturday, June 13** — Household Hazardous Waste Collection, Westford Recycling Center - **Monday, June 15** — Virtual author talk: Rachel Hartigan on Amelia Earhart, 7–8 p.m., Zoom (J.V. Fletcher Library); School Committee meeting - **Wednesday, June 17** — Board of Assessors; Council on Aging; Pedestrian Safety Committee; Zoning Board of Appeals meeting; Virtual Job Search Help for 50+ (library); Virtual Mystery/Thriller Book Recs with author Hank Phillippi Ryan (library, Zoom) - **Thursday, June 18** — Westford 300th Anniversary Committee meeting - **Friday, June 19** — J.V. Fletcher Library closed for Juneteenth - **Thursday, June 25** — YA Summer Reading Kickoff Party at Forge Pond Beach