The Westport Office of Emergency Management has been closely monitoring the policy recommendations by the State of Connecticut’s Interagency Drought Working Group (IDW) and approved by Governor Ned Lamont to declare that all eight Connecticut counties are experiencing Stage 2 Drought conditions due to precipitation across the state being below normal. Under the state’s drought plan adopted in 2018, Stage 2 identifies an emerging drought event, potentially impacting water supplies, agriculture, or natural ecosystems.
The State and Town are asking residents and businesses to take measures that could help reduce the impact of future drought. “Although we have received some rain and are not under any drought warnings, 89% of Connecticut is experiencing minor to moderate drought conditions”, said Fire Chief Michael Kronick, Emergency Management Director. While you can’t always predict a drought, you can prepare for one by being proactive and conscientious. many best practices double as drought preparation. Conserving water is particularly important when drought strikes, but it’s also a good habit to be in at all times for environmental reasons. Try to do at least one thing each day to conserve water.
- Reduce automatic outdoor irrigation
- Postpone the planting of any new lawns or vegetation
- Minimize overall water use by fixing leaky plumbing and fixtures
- Follow any additional conservation requests issued by water suppliers or municipalities
For more information from the Connecticut Drought Information Center, please click here.