Drought Conditions Continue To Worsen Across Connecticut

CONNECTICUT — Remember that deluge of rain that finished off September hereabouts? Turns out it wasn't nearly enough.

The Connecticut Interagency Drought Workgroup has increased the drought status for four counties to Stage 3 and one county has entered Stage 2. Even as you were pumping out your basement a few weeks ago, the drought has continued to intensify over much of Connecticut.

In particular, significant portions of Hartford, New London, Tolland, and Windham counties are now experiencing conditions consistent with a Stage 3 or "moderate" drought. The highest drought stage, as specified by the Connecticut Drought Preparedness and Response Plan, is Stage 5.

Stage 3 is comparable to the highest intensity of drought Connecticut experienced during 2016-2017. Conditions can vary locally, inside and outside the Stage 3 area and preparations are beginning for the possibility of targeted emergency response should conditions continue to worsen. The Interagency Drought Workgroup has also determined that conditions in Middlesex County are consistent with Stage 2 drought, which is an emerging drought event potentially impacting water supplies, agriculture, or natural ecosystems. Litchfield County remains at Stage 2 and Fairfield and New Haven Counties remain at Stage 1.

Reports of low water levels in private wells, streams, agricultural water supplies, and fire suppression ponds have been increasing, especially in eastern Connecticut. Due to the unusually dry soils, the rain that does fall does not soak into the ground and the threat of fire returns soon after the rain ends.

State agencies are asking Nutmeggers to monitor daily forest fire danger reports and plan outdoor burning accordingly, especially in areas dependent on fire ponds that might not be usable. Specific guidelines are being offered, depending upon just how dry your area is.

For counties at Stage 3:

• End irrigation of established lawns and limit other outdoor water uses;
• Residents and businesses dependent upon private wells should limit water use to only essential needs to reduce the chance of well depletion (see guidance for private well users);
• Prepare for using alternative water sources in the event wells, farm ponds, fire suppression supplies, or other critical water sources become depleted; and
• Avoid burning in or near woodlands or brushlands, and obey any municipal or state orders for outdoor burning bans

For counties at Stage 2 or above:

• Reduce outdoor irrigation and other non-essential outdoor uses of water;
• Postpone the planting of any new lawns or vegetation (if new plantings cannot be postponed, consider drought-tolerant species); and
• Minimize overall water use by fixing leaky plumbing and fixtures

For all counties:

• Follow best practices for water conservation and wise water use; and
• Be alert to the potential for worsening conditions and follow conservation requests or mandates issued by public water systems, municipalities, or state agencies

A Stage 2 drought was previously announced for Litchfield, Hartford, Tolland, and Windham counties on Aug. 26 and was announced for New London County on Sept. 21. Stage 3 initiates additional state review of options for preparing for potentially more serious conditions in the future.