Connecticut Regulators Seek Voluntary Water Use Cutbacks

The latest state to get hit with drought concerns is Connecticut, where regulators are urging utilities to monitor their supplies.

“Water levels in the state's reservoirs are slightly above where they should be at this time of year, on average, but state public health officials say they are keeping close watch because of a long dry spell,” the Hartford Courant recently reported.

As of September 10, News 8 reported: “All of southern half of Connecticut is under a moderate drought. All of northern CT is considered abnormally dry.”

Officials say the water supply in Bristol, a city near Hartford, has fallen significantly beneath normal levels.

“The state public health department has advised other water utilities to consider asking customers for voluntary conservation measures unless there's sustained rainfall soon,” the report said.

"Due to the lower than normal precipitation this summer and the typical higher water demands associated with summer outdoor water use, water supply resources are being strained and must be carefully monitored," the public health department said in a written advisory to all Connecticut water utilities last week.

Agriculture, in particular, is feeling the heat. “The recent dry spells have had quite an impact on farmers in Connecticut, including those producing fruits and vegetables,” Fox CT reported.

Connecticut is not the only East Coast state facing this pressure. “With its three reservoirs along the Hackensack River now down to a combined 45 percent of capacity, United Water is asking North Jersey residents to voluntarily conserve water. Allendale officials imposed stricter water rationing measures, saying the borough’s well system is ‘severely stressed.’ And the four towns that use the Ridgewood Water system have been on mandatory conservation for weeks,” The Record reported.

For more on the drought, visit Water Online’s Water Scarcity Solutions Center.