Water Conservation Remains Critical

The National Weather Service is predicting a 20 - 40 % chance of rain over the next several days which means it is more likely that we will not see any rain than that we will. (Statisticians out there feel free to correct my interpretation of the chances). Let's all keep the recent Drought Advisory in mind and reduce our water consumption as much as possible.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 12, 2010

Contact: 860-524-7313

Governor Rell: Water Conservation Remains Critical

Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that – following a meeting this morning of the Interagency Drought Work Group, the state’s standing committee established to monitor potential drought conditions – she is continuing to ask residents to avoid non-essential uses of water and to bear in mind an elevated risk of fires statewide.

“We continue to watch the water situation statewide – especially after a number of water companies reported spikes in demand last week during the heat wave – and every day we go without a good, soaking rain the situation will be aggravated,” Governor Rell said. “The spotty weekend showers were not nearly enough to really refill the water table and the forecast for this week remains uncertain.

“While there is no emergency, it is still important to residents to avoid non-essential uses of water like watering lawns or washing cars at home until the water levels are back to normal,” the Governor said. “State agencies will continue to monitor the situation.”

The Drought Work Group said higher demand for water during nighttime hours suggests the increased usage is related to lawn watering. The group is recommending that individuals with automatic watering systems consider having their systems reprogrammed to reduce the flow and/or frequency of watering.

Governor Rell Issues Drought Advisory

submitted by Jane Brawerman

Governor Rell Issues Drought Advisory

State Agencies to Cut Back on Unnecessary Water Use

Governor M. Jodi Rell today issued a Drought Advisory for the State of Connecticut and directed all state agencies to immediately take steps to conserve water at state facilities.

"We all must do our part to cut down on our water usage and the State of Connecticut will lead by example with our conservation efforts," said Governor Rell. "Rainfall totals over the past few months have been 35 percent below normal.

"Some relief may reach Connecticut as early as next weekend, but in the meantime, water conservation is simple and just requires common sense. Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth, take shorter showers, don't water your lawn and do larger loads of laundry."

"Reservoirs across the state continue to drop to well below capacity. In fact, the Quinebaug,Housatonic and Naugatuck rivers are flowing at seriously low levels. Town officials in Bristol, Manchester,Norwich, Sprague, Greenwich and Sharon have already enacted emergency rules regarding water conservation.

"I also want to remind the public that until the state receives significant rainfall, forest fire danger levels will remain high. Enjoy the outdoors, but obey local laws regarding open fires, carefully dispose of hot coals and completely extinguish any smoking materials. Never throw a lit cigarette out a car window."

Governor Rell suggested that conservation measures be taken by all residents and businesses, including cutting back on unnecessary water use, such as watering lawns and washing cars.

Detailed conservation measures may be found at the following website:http://www.ct.gov/dph/cwp/view.asp?a=3139&q=387296

The Governor also provided the following water efficiency tips:

Bathrooms:

• Do not let the water run while shaving or brushing teeth.

• Take short showers instead of tub baths.

Kitchen and Laundry:

• Keep drinking water in the refrigerator instead of letting the faucet run until the water is cool.

• Operate the dishwasher only when completely full.

• Use the appropriate water level or load size selection on the washing machine.

Outside:

• Sweep driveways, sidewalks and steps rather than hosing off.

• Wash the car with water from a bucket, or consider using a commercial car wash that recycles water.

• When using a hose, control the flow with an automatic shut-off nozzle.

Equipment:

• Repair all leaks. A leaky toilet can waste 200 gallons per day. To detect leaks in the toilet, add food coloring to the tank water. If the colored water appears in the bowl, the toilet is leaking. Toilet repair advice is available at http://www.toiletology.com/index.shtml .

Watering:

• Detect and repair all leaks in irrigation systems.