Hingham Water Board Approves FY27 Rates, Authorizes Shutoffs for Repeat Irrigators

HINGHAM — June 30, 2026 — Hingham's Board of Water Commissioners unanimously adopted a fiscal year 2027 rate package and authorized water shutoffs for repeat drought violators at its June 30 meeting. The board voted 3-0 to enact a 3 percent water usage rate increase and a $65 per residential customer capital debt service assessment effective July 1, the final step after Hingham Town Meeting approved the package in April. Water Superintendent Russ Tierney and Veolia Project Manager Darren Dureth told the board that enforcement crews have documented more than 220 first-offense and more than 21 second-offense irrigation violations across the Hingham, Hull, and North Cohasset service area, with a third-offense shutoff list already compiled and curb stops painted blue. "We're at a point now where we need to start shutting people off to show people that we're serious," Dureth said. Commissioner Bill Ramsey questioned town counsel John Popham's review of the enforcement protocol before endorsing shutoffs, which Tierney confirmed had occurred. The system remains in a Level 2 significant drought — no lawn watering of any kind permitted — with storage tanks dropping roughly two feet each night as irrigation systems activate at 3 a.m. The first combined Weir River Water and HMLP electric bill for Hingham customers is set to go out August 1.