The recent rains have helped, but a few towns in the Berkshires had already urged residents to minimize water use after the state declared in mid-September that a majority of Massachusetts was or is in a Level 2 drought.

Level 2 drought is considered "significant" and means that the area had two months of below-average rain and that groundwater levels are low. Local water supplies are reporting signs of strain.

Sandisfield residents may begin experiencing reduced water in wells, though we are far from the extreme drought experienced here in October and November 2016. See The Times' "Neighbor Helping Neighbor" in that year's December issue for what happens in Sandisfield when water really gets low.

The state's number system for drought level: Normal is 0. Mild is #1. Significant #2. Critical #3. And extreme #4. Our level 2 should retreat to mild or even normal with the rains we hope come this fall and the snow we hope for this winter.