The state's Department of Public Health (DPH) issued a Drought Advisory this week, which appears to be more of a preventative measure than based on any current actual shortages of available public or private water supplies, according to the Newtown Health District.The Newtown Bee that she believes the advisory was issued primarily because of a lack of rainfall.mosquito.org) suggests residents take a three-pronged approach to preventing mosquito proliferation and increased biting, by following the three "Ds" - Drain, Dress and Defend.Click the link below for The American Mosquito Control Association's "Remember The Three Ds of Protection From Mosquitos," which explains the importance of Drain, Dress and Defend:American Mosquito Control Association Three Ds PDF

Health District Director Donna Culbert told

The DPH message stated: "Water levels in Connecticut's larger reservoirs and water systems are perfectly fine at this point. There are currently no reports of any Community Public Water Systems triggering their emergency contingency plans due to below normal reservoir capacities."

An Interagency Drought Advisory Workgroup, comprising the Commissioners of DPH and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), and the Chairman of the Public Utility Regulatory Authority (PURA), monitors and analyzes water-related data to ensure that Connecticut's water supplies remain stable.

At a meeting of the workgroup June 27, it was determined that five of seven drought benchmarks had been met, triggering the state's entry into the Drought Advisory Stage. Those benchmarks include precipitation, groundwater, streamflow, Palmer Drought Index and fire danger.

The remaining two benchmarks, reservoir levels and the Crop Moisture Index, have not been met.

Drought Advisories were previously declared in 2002, 2007 and 2010. If conditions continue to decline, a Drought Watch would be issued.

Ms Culbert said the notice also reminded state residents that DPH continuously monitors reservoirs, and "we are not in a drought."

"I want to emphasize that water levels in Connecticut's larger reservoirs and water systems are perfectly fine at this point," said DPH Commissioner Raul Pino.

Dr Pino said the state has "not experienced as much rain as we typically do to this point in the year.   Therefore people should be conscientious about their water consumption so that we don't begin to experience drought conditions later this summer, particularly if rainfall continues to be below average."

Regardless of rainfall amounts, Ms Culbert believes the advisory is a good opportunity to remind Newtown residents that the it is important to be conscientious about water use.

Following the DPH advisory, the health district director immediately checked in with John Herlihy, vice president of water quality and environmental management with Aquarion Water Company, which is Newtown's largest water supply utility.

Mr Herlihy reiterated the need to be mindful about our water consumption.

"It's been a long dry period for the past three months, and it is the beginning of the high usage time of year," Ms Culbert said. "Water levels may be good now, but it will be important to be careful and not wasteful."

Mr Herlihy told the local health official that Aquarion did send out an automated call to users over the weekend requesting voluntary conservation. He said some limited rainfall and some user conservation has helped restore storage tank levels.

"Early messaging to consumers at the dry beginning of this summer is good practice," Ms Culbert said. "Judicious use of water now can help if a drought is experienced later this season."

Mr Herlihy assured Ms Culbert that Aquarion watches weather patterns and the levels of their reservoirs and groundwater supplies very closely.

"They share our longstanding value that drinking water is a precious natural resource," the health official said. "Regardless of whether a home or business is connected to a public water supply or its water sources is an individual well, using water efficiently is important every day."

Ms Culbert advises residents that public and private water supplies can be conserved daily by modifying the way Newtown residents and businesses "run the water."

"Showering, bathing, brushing teeth, shaving, washing dishes can all be done without running the water the entire time, and gallons of water can be saved," Ms Culbert said. "More efficient cycles in the dishwasher and the washing machine, and even hand watering can be huge water savers. And always look for and repair water leaks."

While public health agencies are reinforcing drought prevention, with any local rainfall, the call for dumping standing water is sounded.

Ms Culbert said June 26 to July 2 was National Mosquito Control Awareness Week.

"Yes, there is a week for just about everything, but this is very relevant and timely, as the intermittent heat, humidity and rainfall season has begun, and concerns about mosquito-borne disease is on the rise," the local health official said. "Although Zika is not transmitted locally at this time, it is always important to reduce the amount of mosquitoes and their bites."

The American Mosquito Control Association (