Aquarion Extends Water Conservation Plea — Again

Woe betide the thirsty Westport lawn, as Aquarion Water Company has once again extended its request for residents to conserve water — this time through Friday, July 23.

"Although the precipitation we experienced this past Tuesday and Wednesday offered short-term relief, the forecast through next week shows more hot weather and very little rain," Bruce Silverstone, vice president of the company's corporate communications, said in a statement. "Consequently, we are taking a forward-looking approach."

The measures are voluntary but important for assuring the systemwide availability of water, according to Aquarion.

During last week's heat wave, Aquarion received reports of low pressure and discoloration across Fairfield County. Officials said the company saw record levels of demand last Tuesday, pumping some 140 million gallons of water.

But the request comes in the same week that Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal slammed the company's proposed three-year, $31 million rate hike on its 580,000 Connecticut customers as "excessive" and "unwarranted."

According to Blumenthal, Aquarion has "overstated its expenses and actually seeks to bolster its return on equity to a rate higher than any other utility in the state."

 "Aquarion is living in an alternate financial universe," Blumenthal said. "When many consumers have lost jobs and income, and are conserving money to overcome economic disaster, Aquarion is opening the dam—flowing money towards increased salaries and bonuses."

RESTRICTIONS

To "help ensure sufficient water supply and reduce the likelihood of outages," Aquarion is asking that customers alternate garden irrigation or lawn watering dates based on the parity of their street addresses.

Those with odd street numbers are asked to limit such activities to odd-numbered dates, while those with even street numbers are asked to conduct them only on even-numbered dates. All are asked to restrict waterings to between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. or 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. in order to avoid peak usage hours.

Though new lawns require regular watering, customers with established lawns are requested to defer watering for a week, Aquarion spokesman Bruce Silverstone said in a statement.

The company has released the following expanded list of household recommendations:

• Use watering cans or hoses with shut-off nozzles for gardens instead of sprinklers. 
• Defer washing boats, cars, and other motor vehicles at home for at least a week.
• When using a car wash, be sure it recycles its water.
• Turn off any ornamental fountains.
• Defer power-washing homes, decks or other areas.
• Cover pools when not in use to prevent evaporation.

In addition, municipalities and businesses have been asked to observe the following restrictions:

• Reduce use of water for any industrial and commercial air conditioners unless a re-circulating water system is in place.
• Do not use water to wet down streets, sidewalks, driveways, construction sites or parking areas unless the local health department certifies a health or safety risk.
• Do not put sprinkler caps on fire hydrants.
• Defer water use for street sweeping.
• Water athletic fields and clay tennis courts for one hour between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. only.
• Operate sprinklers or other irrigation systems on golf course greens and tees from 9 p.m.-midnight, or 3 a.m. - 6 a.m.