Rockport's reservoirs hold at 58% for a third week, about 7 points below last year

Rockport's two drinking water reservoirs held at about 58% full for the week of Oct. 4 to 10, according to the town's weekly water table. That is the third week in a row near that level.

This week's reading

• Total system: 58.3% full, compared with 58.2% the week before and 65.6% in the same week last year.
• Cape Pond: 59.8%, unchanged from the week before. It was 60.9% a year ago.
• Carlson's Quarry: 56.3%, up from 56.1%. It was 71.6% a year ago.

In gallons, the system gained about 200,600 over the week, all of it in Carlson's Quarry. It holds about 14.3 million gallons less than a year ago, and nearly all of that gap, about 13 million gallons, is in Carlson's Quarry.

At the current draw of 0.68 million gallons a day, the town lists 167 days of storage. A year ago it listed 188 days at the same draw.

Why last week said 9 points

Our Oct. 9 write-up said the reservoirs were 9 points below last year. That compared 58.2% for Sept. 27 to Oct. 3 with a year-ago level of 67.3%. This week the town lists a year-ago level of 65.6%, so the gap is 7.3 points. Rockport's own level barely moved; last year's was lower at this point in October.

The ban stays

The town's total ban on outdoor water use, in effect since Sept. 18, is still posted on its drought page. Commercial users may use water only for their core business. The state lists Cape Ann's region at Level 2, Significant Drought, declared Oct. 9.

Rain is in the forecast for Tuesday and Tuesday night, with a tenth to a quarter of an inch possible in each period. See today's weather and tides.

Earlier coverage: Rockport's water is 9 points below last year. The town's water committee wants more people to know how to save it (Oct. 9), the Ad Hoc Water Committee's Oct. 7 meeting, and The drought eased. Why did Rockport ban outdoor watering? (Oct. 4), how the ban works and what would end it.