Aquarion Water Company Urges Voluntary Water Conservation In Shelton

SHELTON, CT — Aquarion Water Company is urging voluntary water conservation in a number of Connecticut communities, including Shelton, the company announced this week.

According to a news release provided by Aquarion, with a deficit of more than 13 inches of rainfall over the past year, the company's Eastern Fairfield County System has reached its first drought trigger at 65 percent of total capacity.

As a result, Aquarion is asking customers in the following Connecticut towns to voluntarily conserve water to help the system recover:

According to Aquarion, Connecticut is currently experiencing conditions ranging from "abnormally dry" to "moderate drought" due to an extended dry spell.

Although recent snowfall has provided some relief, substantially more precipitation is needed to offset the ongoing deficit, according to the company.

As a reference point, ten inches of snow equals approximately one inch of rain, according to the company.

"Due to current drought conditions, Aquarion is advising customers to voluntarily reduce their water use," Aquarion President Lucy Teixeira said in a news release. "It is important for all of our customers to assist in this effort, to help ensure our Eastern Fairfield County system recovers for spring and summer."

The company also provided the following list of six simple ways to conserve water:

1. Fix Leaks Promptly: Even small leaks can waste a significant amount of
2. Install Water-Efficient Fixtures: Choose WaterSense-labeled fixtures, such as low-
3. Take Shorter Showers: Cutting your shower time by just a few minutes
4. Run Full Loads: Use your dishwasher and washing machine only with full loads. This maximizes water use per cycle.
5. Turn Off the Tap: When brushing your teeth, shaving, or washing dishes by hand,
6. Landscaping Projects: Hold off on new landscaping projects until the fall.

Aquarion will also be introducing its twice-weekly irrigation schedule to Eastern Fairfield County towns not already in the program, according to the company.

According to Aquarion, the irrigation schedule is designed to prevent overwatering while meeting the needs of the vast majority of landscapes and is credited with saving hundreds of millions of gallons of water each year.

The irrigation schedule is an important part of Aquarion's plan to reduce the impact on reservoirs during the warmer months when demand is at its peak, according to the company.

Additional conservation tips and information are available here.