45°
The dry conditions that started in August have caused reservoir levels to fall below 50 percent, said a statement from the town.
The call for water conservation on Wednesday came in coordination with Aquarion Water Co., which is asking for voluntary reductions in Greenwich, Stamford, Darien and New Canaan.
Specifically, Aquarion is requesting residents to reduce overall water usage by 10 percent. Those using outdoor irrigation for their lawns are asked to stop for the season.
“This request for water conservation applies to all residents in Greenwich including those served by private wells,” Tesei said. “We are having reports of problems with private wells. This continued drought is impacting all water supplies, not just the reservoirs.”
This past summer, the town of Greenwich and Aquarion instituted permanent water restrictions on lawn irrigation. This action resulted in a tremendous savings of water. Without these restrictions, the region would most likely have been in a drought emergency by early September.
“We know that healthy lawns do not need to be watered more than twice a week, and with cooler temps and shorter days, lawns are starting to go dormant and do not need to be watered at this time,” said Greenwich Conservation Director Denise Savageau.
“The town is actively monitoring drought conditions looking at rainfall data, stream flow and ground water conditions, and reservoir levels, and all indicate that our water resources are still stressed,” Savageau said. “We are still in a rainfall deficit for the past 365 days and are now entering the third year of a drought. We really need several months of above average precipitation to get us out drought conditions, refill our reservoirs and recharge the groundwater.”
To achieve a 10 percent reduction in indoor and non-irrigation outdoor water use, residents are reminded of these simple tips:
- Check and fix for water leaks, especially in the bathroom.
- Flush toilets only when necessary.
- Don’t use the toilet as a wastebasket.
- Take shorter showers, don’t use bathtubs unless necessary and then fill bathtubs only half-way.
- Don’t let the water run while brushing teeth, shaving, washing your hands, or doing dishes.
- Keep a bottle or pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator.
- Wash only full loads in the washing machine or dishwasher.
- Replace older plumbing with low flow toilets and showerheads.
- Sweep the drive way, do not flush with hose
- Use a bucket when washing car, don’t keep hose running.
- Do not overwater outdoor plants.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Greenwich and receive free news updates.
