Billerica Imposes Full Outdoor Water Ban Starting March 23 for Tank Rehab

BILLERICA — March 16, 2026 — Billerica Select Board orders full outdoor water ban starting March 23 as tank rehabilitation begins. Town Manager Chris Dillon and Water Superintendent Todd Melanson told the board Monday that with the 7.5-million-gallon Boston Road storage tank taken offline for rehabilitation through June 30, the system cannot support any outdoor water use and the ban is mandatory. The board also voted 4-1 to confirm a $40,892.36 water bill for the Chelmsford Forum ice rink complex, rejecting a request for further abatement after the town had already reduced the original $67,173.65 bill — the result of seven years of estimated meter reads — by $26,281.29. In a separate unanimous vote, the board approved draft bylaw language banning cryptocurrency ATMs for placement on the spring Town Meeting warrant, with Burrows citing law enforcement presentations documenting widespread scam use of the machines. The board also adjusted do-not-enter sign hours on Parker Street to 6:30–8:45 a.m. and 1:30–3:30 p.m. following resident testimony that the current restricted hours miss peak school traffic entirely.