By Maesa Procopio
“When people in the future ask why we should worry about water conservation when the reservoirs are full or near full, I hope they will remember time periods like this when we are lacking the adequate amount of rainfall and have to observe tighter restrictions on water use,” said First Selectman fred Camillo in an interview earlier this week after the announcement that the State of Connecticut’s Interagency Drought Working Group (IDW) has declared that Stage 2 drought conditions have developed in all eight counties across Connecticut.
A drought plan adopted by the state in 2018 identifies Stage 2 drought as an “emerging drought event, potentially impacting water supplies, agriculture, or natural ecosystems.”
Beginning in April of this year, our state has suffered from conditions that are both hotter and drier than what Connecticut has routinely experienced. “The combination of precipitation shortfalls and an extended period above normal temperatures have impacted the state’s water resources and increased demands upon them,” stated Martin Heft, the Office of Policy & Management Undersecretary.
Governor Lamont recommends that “residents should be mindful of their water consumption and take sensible steps to reduce impacts on other water uses and on the environment.” People must act promptly and diligently to effectively “mitigate the potential for harm should the drought become prolonged,” he added.
The IDW has advised that residents relying on private water sources such as wells and ponds should be hyper aware of the conditions surrounding them, as the effect on their supply could be more severe.
“This is a serious problem out west and I always thought about what that means on a daily basis to everyone in those states,” said First Selectman Camillo
Connecticut is not typically known for having severe dry seasons as we are a state that usually flourishes in the Spring. However, over the past two decades, the state of Connecticut has experienced Stage 2 drought five times, the last one being in 2020.
“When times are good, and the grass is green from plenty of rainwater, let’s remember to not overdo it,” First Selectman Camillo reminds residents, “when times are not so good, like now, let us take seriously the need to conserve water and follow the restrictions placed on us by Aquarion.”
The Department of Public Health and Aquarion suggest ways to decrease water usage while doing daily activities in the home. Things such as showering, brushing your teeth, washing dishes, etc., can be done without continuously running the tap. Wash only full loads in your dishwasher and washing machine. Reuse dehumidifier water or use a bucket to capture shower and bath water while you wait for it to warm up; then use the water to water your plants. Simply being mindful of these small things has the potential to save hundreds of gallons of water in one household alone.
As well as reducing water usage inside the household, residents and businesses are advised to pay attention to things like moderating automatic outdoor irrigation, postponing the planting of new lawns or vegetation, and fixing leaky plumbing and fixtures. Adjusting your lawn mower to a taller setting also helps to conserve water as taller lawns provide shade to the roots and helps retain soil moisture. These adjustments can make a huge impact.
Aquarion has also instituted a mandatory, twice-weekly irrigation schedule for customers in 13 towns, including Greenwich, until October 31st.
Last Digit of Your Address Number:
Please Water Only On:
0, 2, 4, 6 or 8 (even numbers)
Sunday & Wednesday
12:01 am – 10:00 am, or
6:00 pm – Midnight
1, 3, 5, 7 or 9 (odd numbers)
Saturday & Tuesday
12:01 am – 10:00 am, or
6:00 pm – Midnight
No address number
Sunday & Wednesday
12:01 am – 10:00 am, or
6:00 pm – Midnight
First Selectman Fred Camillo encourages residents that “by following these guidelines, we will get through this dry period and be positioned well when the eventual normal rainfalls do arrive.”
