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State building emergency pipeline to supply water to drought-stricken towns in Fairfield County

HARTFORD — The Department of Public Health announced a plan to bring relief to the drought-stricken southwest corner of the state by building a temporary pipeli...
drought

HARTFORD — The Department of Public Health announced a plan to bring relief to the drought-stricken southwest corner of the state by building a temporary pipeline to bring that area some much-needed water.

With those drought-like conditions persisting and very little precipitation in the forecast, the DPH is making a rare move and declaring a public water supply emergency for four towns.

Greenwich, Stamford, Darien and New Canaan are all in the emergency zone.

The declaration was requested by Aquarion Water Company. It will allow the company to divert water from other sources to supply to those towns.

Aquarion will also construct a temporary pipeline to help deliver water to those areas of need.

Statewide, the U.S. drought monitor says 100 percent of Connecticut is experiencing drought conditions.

The Killingsworth Reservoir, which supplies the towns of Guilford, Madison, Clinton, Westbrook and Old Saybrook is down close to nine feet. These communities are being asked to use at least 15 percent less water each day, especially considering the forecast is for another four months of dry weather.

Earlier this year, before the drought, the Connecticut Water Company asked customers to voluntarily reduce water usage by 10 percent statewide with the promise of a $30 credit on their bill - 5,000 of the 90,000 customers took them up on the offer conserving roughly 9,000,000 gallons of water so far this year.

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