July 15, 2022, Mayor Rilling issued a Drought Advisory for the City of Norwalk in partnership with the First District Water Department and the South Norwalk Electric and Water Company (SNEW). This announcement follows Governor Ned Lamont's declaration yesterday, stating Stage 2 Drought conditions in all eight counties across the state due to lower than average precipitation rates and drier than normal conditions in the spring and early summer.

"The City is asking residents to do their part to conserve water given the lack of rainfall and Governor Lamont declaring Stage 2 Drought conditions across the state," said Norwalk Mayor Rilling. "Drought conditions could continue into the months ahead, and by taking steps now, we can help preserve water supplies and mitigate potential harm. I want to thank everyone in our community for their patience and for being mindful of their water consumption."

The First Taxing District and SNEW have mandatory irrigation conservation rules that the City encourages residents to revisit. They include a mandatory irrigation schedule from April through October that requires customers to water their landscape no more than twice a week and prohibits automatic irrigation between 10 AM and 6 PM during this period.

To enhance water conservation, Norwalk’s Department of Recreation and Parks has temporarily ceased irrigating its grass fields. This includes fields at Calf Pasture Beach, City Hall, Norwalk High School, Roton Middle School, Ryan Park, Veterans Park, and 50 Washington Street. 

The City, the First District Water Department and SNEW ask residents to take the following steps to help conserve water:

-Take shorter showers and skip baths altogether (a full bathtub can use up to 70 gallons of water);

-Only wash full loads of laundry;

-Check for leaks around the house, including leaky toilets;

-Keep drinking water in the refrigerator, so you don't have to run the faucet while it cools;

-Stop rinsing dishes before you place them in the dishwasher;

-Take your car to the automatic car wash instead of washing it at home;

-Reuse water for your plants wherever you can;

-Apply mulch to plants, shrubs and ornamental trees to reduce water evaporation from the soil; and

-Switch from a hose to a broom for cleaning your patio.

You can find more tips on conserving water from the First District Water Department's website by visiting https://www.firstdistrictwater.org/easy-ways-to-conserve-water.

Stage 2 Drought conditions is the second of five stages of drought defined in the Connecticut Drought Response and Preparedness Plan. The City of Norwalk will continue to monitor weather conditions and update the public accordingly while working closely with the Connecticut Department of Public Health, the First District Water Department and SNEW.