Norwich water customers asked to conserve water during drought
Norwich ― Water levels in Norwich Public Utilities’ two reservoirs have dipped below 80% in the current drought, prompting the utility to request voluntary conservation measures by its residential and commercial customers.
NPU reported Monday that the two reservoirs measured at 79.5% of capacity as of Saturday morning, prompting a water supply advisory. At these levels, NPU has approximately 265 days of water supply available in its two reservoirs.
“While we are not in an emergency situation, we are asking our customers to help us manage through the current conditions and cut back their water use whenever they can,” NPU General Manager Chris LaRose said in a news release. “A few small adjustments in daily routines can make a big difference if enough people respond to our request.”
NPU policy calls for a water supply advisory when levels fall below 80%, a water supply watch at 70%, a warning at 60% and a water emergency if reservoir levels fall to 50%, which would be 180 days water supply.
Under the current advisory, NPU is asking customers to take measures, such as:
- Run dishwashers or washing machines with full loads only.
- Do not leave the faucet running when washing dishes, shaving, brushing teeth and washing hands.
- Take shorter showers; reduce your time in the shower by one minute a day until you are in and out of the shower in under five minutes.
- Refrain from any unnecessary or wasteful uses of water, such as rinsing sidewalks, driveways or patios.
- Avoid power washing homes and buildings and washing vehicles.
- Fix any leaks in and around your home or business immediately.
NPU spokesman Chris Riley said it is unusual to face drought conditions this late in the fall. It is more common to see these levels in mid-to-late summer.
NPU will continue to monitor the reservoir levels and would increase urgency notices if conditions worsen.
There does not appear to be any meaningful amount of rain in the forecast, but in New England, the weather can change quickly and dramatically.
According to the National Weather Service, there is no chance of significant rain projected for southeastern Connecticut through Sunday.
The New London reservoir levels also are below 80%, which is about average for this time of year, said Joe Lanzafame, New London’s director of public utilities. New London is not yet requesting conservation measures.
“If we get a sustained drought, those levels will drop quickly,” Lanzafame said. “The reservoirs are slow to drop and slow to recover.”
He added that the only remedy is a lot of rain.
Lanzafame said while the water levels are down, they are “nowhere near” low enough to trigger the kind of usage warnings necessitated by drought conditions.
Groton Utilities also has not issued water use advisories to its customers.
c.bessette@theday.com
Day staff writer John Penney contributed to this report.
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