1980 Amherst, Massachusetts water shortage

These conditions were compounded by a combination of lower-than-average rainfall, higher-than-normal temperatures, and increased water consumption during the Labor Day weekend.

Typically, UMass Amherst consumed about half of the 3.4 million gallons the town produced on average, but the sudden surge in demand severely strained the already depleted water supply.

The situation quickly escalated, impacting dormitories at higher elevations, including those in the Sylvan, Orchard Hill, and Central Residential Areas.

On the morning of September 4, UMass Amherst Chancellor Henry Koffler announced the closure of the campus due to the worsening water crisis.

King ordered the Massachusetts State Police to patrol the now-empty UMass Amherst campus to deter potential looters.

[3] In the aftermath of the crisis, UMass Amherst students were reimbursed for room and dining expenses, and the campus gradually returned to normal operations.

The crisis remains a significant event in the history of the town and the university, highlighting the vulnerabilities of water systems during periods of drought.