Date: Fri 21-Jul-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

heat-drought-summer-water

Full Text:

Area Gets Little Relief From The Drought

B Y K AAREN V ALENTA

Rainfall early this week did little to alleviate the summer's increasingly

drought-like conditions in the Newtown area.

Sean Downey, a forecaster with the Western Connecticut State University

Weather Center in Danbury, said Newtown is still more than two months behind

in the amount of rainfall expected by this time each year.

"Newtown should have had 26 inches of rain but has had only 18 inches," he

said. "It's very dry and the fire danger is very high."

There is a slight chance of thundershowers as a cold front brings drier,

pleasant weather to Newtown for the weekend. Temperatures are expected to be

in the 80s on Saturday and Sunday, Mr Downey said.

Last weekend the Danbury area was the hottest spot in the nation and set a new

record when the temperature hit 106 on Saturday according to the Techi-Weather

Center in Danbury. The reading at the WCSU Weather Center that day was 105

degrees. The previous high of 105 degrees was recorded in July 1991 in

Danbury.

If it felt even hotter last weekend, it was because the heat index - a measure

of heat and humidity - made it feel like it was 120 degrees.

Mark Cooper, director of the Newtown Health District, said his department has

been receiving an increasing number of telephone calls from residents whose

wells are running dry. "We had two calls yesterday and another two today," he

said. "I'm sure that there are others we don't know about."

Sanitarian Martha Wright said that some new residents who are used to having

city water don't realize the difference that having a well can make.

"They do laundry, water the lawn and take showers, then are surprised when

they suddenly have no water," she said.

The health district has put together a three-page list of water conservation

tips. Copies are available at the health district office. Some of the tips are

summarized below. Mrs Wright said that when the sanitary code was revised

recently, language was written in to prevent builders from installing a well

in positions which would impact on the water supplies of neighboring

properties.

Water Conservation Tips

Laundry: The average wash/rinse cycle uses 40 to 60 gallons per load.

Spreading out water usage during the week, such as doing only one load per

day, allows maximum recovery time for the well (and maximum percolation time

for the septic system).

Recommendations: Reduce number of loads by washing only full loads, or adjust

the water level to small or medium setting. Space out loads throughout the

week. Do not launder during peak water using time (while meal prep or bathing

is taking place). Consider going off-premises, such as to a commercial laundry

or a relative) if well is in acute condition. Recycle rinse water for other

uses.

Bathroom: A single leaking faucet can waste hundreds of gallons of water a

year. (A new faucet washer costs less than a dollar.) Leaking toilets that

constantly run or drip use hundreds of gallons per year. Sometimes a simple

adjustment will solve the problem; food dye in the full tank will show up in

the bowl if there is a leak. Older toilets use 3-4 gallons per flush; toilets

sold since 1993 use 1.5 to 1.6 gallons per flush.

Choose showers over baths. A 10-minute shower uses less water than half a tub

full of water. Limit time spent in the shower; install a low-flow or flow

restrive showerhead and save up to 2.5 gallons per minute. Do not run water

while brushing teeth or shaving.

Kitchen: Put an aerator on the kitchen faucet. Do not run the water constantly

while cleaning vegetables or performing other kitchen tasks. Do not run the

water to cool or warm it; keep water in the refrigerator for cold drinks, use

a stove or microwave to get hot water.

Run dishwasher only when full; a typical dishwasher uses about 15 gallons of

water per load. Handwashing the dishes with the water running will use as much

as 25 gallons of water in 15 minutes. Filling the dishpan and conservatively

rinsing will use three to ten gallons. Garbage disposals use one to six

gallons per minute; use sparingly.

Lawn and Garden: Do not water unless absolutely necessary; then water in the

early morning or late evening to minimize evaporation. Use mulch and ground

covers. Organic matter such as compose, rotted manure and peat moss will

improve the soil's ability to retain water. Plant drought-tolerant species.

Hand water with direct watering to the roots rather than spraying on leaves

and foilage.

Do not wash cars; use a commercial car wash. If absolutely necessary, use a

bucket and/or hose with a shut-off nozzle. do not use a hose to clean decks

and walkways. Since hose connections frequently leak, turn off water at the

faucet. Recycle water from inside the house (but check soap or detergent

toxicity to plants).