With reservoir levels dropping and drought conditions persisting, Norwich Public Utilities is asking residents and businesses to cut back on water use.
The utility issued a Water Supply Watch Oct. 23 after its two reservoirs fell to about 70% of capacity, according to a community announcement. That level indicates roughly 230 days of water supply remain. The Water Supply Watch is required under NPU’s Water Supply Plan, which is filed with the State of Connecticut.
“In an abundance of caution, we are asking our customers to help us manage through the current conditions and cut back their water use whenever they can,” Jeff Brining, assistant general manager of NPU, said. “Being more mindful in our daily routines can make a big difference if enough people respond to our request.”
What happens if the water level gets lower
If reservoir levels continue to drop, NPU may escalate its response:
A Water Supply Warning is triggered at 60% capacity (about 200 days of supply)
A Water Supply Emergency is triggered at 50% capacity (about 180 days of supply)
How to conserve water
To help conserve water, NPU and the Connecticut Department of Public Health recommend several steps:
Avoid rinsing sidewalks, driveways or patios
Run dishwashers and washing machines only with full loads
Turn off faucets while brushing teeth, shaving or washing dishes
Take shorter showers — aim for under five minutes
Skip power washing and car washing
NPU is also pausing its annual hydrant flushing to save water over the next few weeks.
More information is available at norwichpublicutilities.com.
This story was created by David DeMille, ddemille@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Norwich Public Utilities issues Water Supply Watch amid drought in CT