Water Supply Status Report

Effective Date:
June 30, 2008
Current Status:
Our reservoirs are at 93% of capacity
Normal Status for Time of Year:
Reservoirs usually at 88% of capacity

What’s Happening Now?

Most years our region is blessed with more than enough precipitation. In a typical year, all the snow, sleet, freezing rain and rain that usually falls on south central Connecticut is enough to fill our reservoirs and replenish our wellfield aquifers.

What Should We Do Right Now?

Right now, we are asking consumers to use water wisely. As an organization, we are also trying to curtail some of the ways we use water. Together, these are appropriate for the current situation. As things change, we will work through the news media and here at our web site to keep consumers informed. At this site you can monitor the level of water in our reservoirs and stay in touch with changing conditions.

Our Philosophy – Always Use Water Wisely

Our primary purpose is to provide and assure an adequate supply of pure water is available at reasonable cost to our customers. Regardless of the weather conditions, we encourage consumers to use water wisely. Here’s how:

Tips for Saving Water and Money

• Check the faucets and toilets in your home for leaks. If leaking fix.
• Install high-efficiency, low-flow volume shower heads.
• Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or shaving.
• Fill your sink or basin when washing or rinsing dishes.
• Run your dishwasher and washing machine only when full.
• Wash vegetables and fruit in a basin. Use a vegetable brush to remove dirt.

Specific tips for outdoor use

• Water lawn and other landscaping early in the morning, if possible, to avoid excess evaporation.
• Be sure sprinklers water only the lawn, not the pavement.
• Plant less grass. Shrubs and ground cover could require less maintenance, less water and provide year-round greenery. Choose shrubs and trees adapted for our New England climate.
• Apply mulch around flowers, shrubs, and trees to reduce evaporation, promote plant growth and control weeds.
• Be sure your garden hose has a shut off nozzle.
• When washing your car, wet it quickly, turn off the spray, and then wash it with soapy water from a bucket. Rinse quickly.
• Never use the hose to clean debris off the driveway or sidewalk. Use a broom.

What is a drought?

A drought occurs when a deficiency of precipitation (snow or rain) lasts for an extended period of time, usually a season or more. An agricultural drought occurs when low rainfall affect crops and farms. A water supply drought arises when a drought affects our ability to supply this region with water.

Although the characteristics vary significantly from one region to another, droughts occur in virtually all climatic zones. New England is known for its fluctuating temperatures and weather patterns. Periodic drought is a normal feature of our climate.

Every year, between 10 and 15 percent of America experiences a severe or extreme drought, according to the Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska. Preparation and planning can help reduce the water supply impact of a drought. Our drought planning begins with a look at past droughts.

The drought of 1961-1968 was the most significant to date in our 150-year history. During this severe, multi-year drought we were able to supply our consumers without imposing any water restrictions. Our ability to withstand that drought came from our use of various reservoirs. Our Water Resource Engineers use the statistics of the 1960s drought when they are planning for the future.

How Does the Drought Response Plan Work?

We designed our Drought Response Plan to extend our ability to provide adequate water for public health and fighting fires. The plan outlines five stages of drought intensity and the procedures.

First Stage: A Water Supply Alert occurs when our reservoirs drop below their normal level. In addition to notifying the Connecticut’s Department of Public Health, we would cut our own use of water. For example, we minimize the flushing of mains in the system. At this stage, we would not ask consumers to take any special steps. It is not an uncommon occurrence for a short period of dry weather to trigger this stage.

Second Stage: If below normal rainfall continues for several months, low reservoir levels could trigger a Water Supply Advisory. During this stage, we would ask consumers to voluntarily curtail the use of water by 10 percent.

Third through Fifth Stages: If precipitation continues below normal we will progress into Phase I, Phase II and Phase III Emergency. The three emergency phases carry progressively tougher mandatory water restrictions.

More Information:

Visit http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense to find easy practices to reduce water bill and environmental impact.