Water Sinks To Low Levels In Saugatuck Reservoir In Redding

REDDING, Conn. — The drought in Connecticut has forced Aquarion Water Co. to issue mandatory watering bans in several towns. Evidence of the depth of the problem is visible to anyone passing by the Saugatuck Reservoir along the Redding/Weston border.

The Saugatuck Reservoir is visibly lower than usual in October 2016.
Photo Credit: *Carolyn Mueller*

The Saugatuck Reservoir is several feet lower than usual. October 2016.
Photo Credit: *Carolyn Mueller*

Carolyn Mueller

10/28/2016 5:20 a.m.

Several feet of rocky soil, which is usually covered by water, is revealed along the shoreline of the reservoir.

The heavy rain on Thursday may help a bit, but the state is over a foot below normal rainfall so far this year, according to the National Weather Service.

Aquarion announced that, as a result of a request by the water utility, the Connecticut Department of Public Health declared a public water emergency in Greenwich, Stamford, New Canaan and Darien at the end of September.

In October, a similar water emergency was issued for Danbury as well as parts of Ridgefield and Bethel.

The rulings by the DPH allow Aquarion the option of transferring water between systems to meet the need for water. Aquarion, based in Bridgeport, supplies water to 625,000 people in 50 cities and towns across the state.

For more information about the drought, click here. For more information about Aquarion, click here.

Click here to follow Daily Voice Trumbull-Monroe and receive free news updates.