Governor Urges Residents To Limit Water Use

Governor Jodi Rell is urging Connecticut residents to conserve water during the current spell of hot, dry weather. WNPR’s Nancy Cohen reports.

Temperatures soared this week averaging above 90 degrees in the Hartford area, with little or no rain. The heat has driven up the demand for water. But Governor Rell is calling on state residents to limit the amount of water they use, even if they rely on private wells.

The Commissioner of Public Health has declared water emergencies in East Lyme, Putnam and Litchfield. The declarations call for mandatory conservation measures banning outdoor water use.

Under the declarations utilities have permission to access water sources they normally aren’t allowed to use because of environmental concerns, such as protecting stream flow and fish habitat. Stream flows across the state are below normal. In the Housatonic River Valley they’re well below normal.

A state task force made up of several agencies that oversee water quality, water supply, public safety and agriculture will meet on Monday to review the impact of the dry conditions.

For WNPR, I’m Nancy Cohen.