Around Town
Dripping Faucet Angelo Gonzalez

Water Restrictions Due to Drought Ease a Bit for Darien, Nearby Towns

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As a result of a new request by the Aquarion Water Company, the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) has issued a second water supply emergency order in Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan and Stamford. ___________
— an announcement from Aquarion Water Co. ___________
This is in accordance with Connecticut General Statute 25-32b allowing DPH to make this declaration. This new order helps increase the likelihood of refilling the Greenwich and Stamford reservoir systems. As of Feb. 17, the Greenwich system was approximately 68 percent full, while the Stamford system measured 61 percent full.

Healthy Living
Dripping Faucet Angelo Gonzalez

Aquarion Asks Customers to Cut Water Consumption by 20%

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With Connecticut’s drought only increasing in severity, Aquarion Water Company is urging customers throughout the southwestern part of the state to cut back on indoor water use by 20 percent. From Bridgeport to Greenwich, Aquarion’s reservoirs are between 15 and 60 percent of capacity. The company has been building temporary pipelines to balance the supply among its reservoirs. ______________
— an announcement from Aquarion Water Co. ______________
However, no end to the dry weather pattern is in sight, and state authorities are also seeking major reductions in usage.

Healthy Living
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Tips on How to Save Water

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Here’s a slew of tips on how to use less water in your household:

These tips are from this Web page on the Aquarion Water Company website:

Throughout your house

Fix leaky faucets. This one step alone could cut your water usage by almost 20 percent. Here’s how to check for leaks. For bathrooms:

Get inexpensive, water-saving aerators for your sinks. Replace shower heads with water-efficient models.

Government & Politics
Dripping Faucet Angelo Gonzalez

State Declares Public Water Supply Emergency for Darien, Nearby Communities

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With drought conditions persisting and too little precipitation forecast for the foreseeable future, Connecticut Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Raul Pino today signed an order declaring a temporary 30-day public water supply emergency for four Fairfield County towns served by Aquarion Water Company (AWC): Greenwich, Stamford, Darien and New Canaan. Aquarion’s water issues are also affecting several towns in nearby Westchester County, N.Y., who are also served by AWC: Rye, Ryebrook and Port Chester. DPH is working closely with the New York State Health Department and the Westchester County Health Department to ensure an adequate water supply for all seven towns. The rarely used declaration was requested by AWC to allow the company to divert water from other sources of supply to the four Connecticut towns which are facing a substantial depletion of their public water supply as a result of ongoing drought conditions. DPH, in consultation with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and the Public Utility Regulatory Authority (PURA), determined that the declaration was necessary to prevent further depletion of the water supply.

Around Town
Aquarion

Outdoor Watering Restrictions Now Tighter — Even Using Hand-Held Hoses Now Banned

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 Aquarion Water Company, working in cooperation with town and city officials in Greenwich, Stamford, New Canaan, and Darien, is implementing a mandatory ban on the use of outdoor watering devices, including irrigation systems, sprinklers, soaker hoses, and hand-held hoses. This ban is effective immediately. Aquarion Water Company personnel started going door-to-door in Darien beginning this past weekend to encourage compliance. _____________

— an announcement from the Darien Police Department, slightly edited, and which adds the second paragraph above and the “Safety reminder” at the bottom to this announcement from Aquarion. _____________

Aquarion will be reminding customers about the watering ban with automated phone calls.

Around Town
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Aquarion: Plea to Stop Using Outdoor Watering Devices Is Now a Ban

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Aquarion Water Company, working in cooperation with town and city officials in Darien, Greenwich, Stamford and New Canaan, is implementing a mandatory ban on the use of outdoor watering devices, including irrigation systems, sprinklers, and soaker hoses. This ban is effective immediately. Aquarion will be reminding customers about the watering ban with automated phone calls. Outdoor watering activities using a hand-held hose will be allowed for the time being. “We are telling our customers to turn off their irrigation systems and sprinklers for the season,” said Charles V. Firlotte, Aquarion President and CEO.

Around Town
Anton Croos Water Sprinkler Wikimedia Commons 8-18-16

Aquarion: Please Don’t Water Lawns Thru Sunday — We Need to Conserve Water

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Aquarion Water Company, working in cooperation with town and city officials in Greenwich, Stamford, New Canaan and Darien, is encouraging its customers to conserve water by not watering lawns through this Sunday, Aug. 21, due to the recent rain. Customers are also urged to limit lawn irrigation to a maximum of twice a week (any two days) for the remainder of the season.  This applies to irrigation systems, hose-end sprinklers, and soaker hoses, while use of a hand-held hoses for watering is acceptable at any time. Aquarion will be reminding customers about water conservation with automated phone calls as well. “We are asking our customers in Greenwich, Stamford, New Canaan and Darien to continue to conserve water and reduce non-essential outdoor water use,” said Charles V. Firlotte, Aquarion President and CEO.

Transportation
Utility Work Ahead sign 6-15-16

Water Main Replacement to Close Middlesex Road/Noroton Avenue Intersection Most of Thursday

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The installation of a water main directly at the intersection of Middlesex Road and Noroton Avenue means the intersection will be closed to traffic from about 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Darien police have announced. Here’s most of the announcement:
The Darien Police Department is issuing this traffic advisory to notify motorists of a roadway closure and traffic detour scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016. 

The Aquarion Water Company is in the process of installing 1,000 feet of 16-inch ductile iron water main on Noroton Avenue and Middlesex Road.  The intersection of these two roads will require a complete closure on the date listed above. Detour signage will be prominently posted along the detour routes and traffic control personnel will be on scene to assist motorists.

Public Safety
Utility Work Ahead sign 6-15-16

Water Main Project to Close Intersection at Middlesex Rd & Noroton Ave on Monday

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Start your morning commute well before 7:30 a.m. on Monday if it takes you past the intersection of Middlesex Road and Noroton Avenue — both roads will be closed there from about 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Darien police have announced. The reason is Aquarion Water Company’s ongoing water main replacement project along Noroton Avenue. It won’t just be a lane closure — the entire intersection will be shut down as extensive excavation takes place to get the new pipe in the ground, police said. Here’s the full text of the announcement, which Darien police just emailed at 12:08 p.m.:
Traffic Advisory
Location: Middlesex Road and Noroton Avenue 
Date of traffic interruption: Monday July 18
Time of traffic interruption: approximately 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
Reason for roadway closure/traffic detour: water main installation directly in the intersection requiring substantial excavation and heavy equipment movement. The Darien Police Department is issuing this traffic advisory to notify motorists of a roadway closure and traffic detour scheduled for Monday, July 18, 2016.

Around Town
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UPDATE: Aquarion: Darien Pump Station Fixed Early — Water Your Lawns at Will

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UPDATE 6:16 p.m., Wednesday — Aquarion Water Co. says the pump station in Darien is now fixed and customers in town should feel free to water their lawns as much as they want. The company originally asked customers not to water lawns (unless by hand) until Thursday evening, but at 4:52 p.m., the company announced in a brief news release that the pump station had been fixed early. Here’s the entire statement:
Aquarion Water Company is pleased to inform Darien customers that the pumping facility that experienced a water leak is back in service. Customers may resume normal lawn irrigation activities.

News
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Aquarion: Latest Water Main Project Announcement: Park Lane

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About eight customers will be affected by this late Monday afternoon project on Park Lane, Aquarion announced. The water utility also has other scheduled water main replacement project in town this summer. Here’s the announcement from the Aquarion website:

Updated:  Monday, June 27, 2016     2:13 PM

Street Location of Repair:  Park Ln – Darien, CT

Size of Water Main:  8″

Estimated Restoration Time:  4:15 PM – 6:15 PM

Number of Customers Affected:  Approximately 8 customers

Streets Affected:

Street
House Numbers (approximate)

Park Ln
Between West Ave and Holmes Ave

During and after the outage event, some customers may experience discolored water. You may want to use stored water for drinking and cooking, and delay clothes washing until water is clear. Run your cold water faucet until the water appears clear, prior to resuming use for these purposes.

Business
Utility Work Ahead sign 6-15-16

It’s Utility Project Summer for Darien as Gas, Water Projects Dig up Streets

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Eversource is replacing gas service lines beneath 5,000 feet of Darien streets this summer as Aquarion replaces about as many feet of water main lines under other town roads, according to separate announcements Wednesday. 

Two of the projects start around June 20, according to the announcements. A third project, replacing a water line, starts soon after July 4. Natural Gas

For the gas lines, in a project which is completely separate from the planned extension of natural gas lines in town, West Avenue will see construction crews from the Stamford Border to Moore Street, on Moore Street itself as well as on Holmes Avenue, Robinson, Brown, Catherine, Hazel, and Kelsey Streets. Other streets where pipes will be replaced: Holmes Avenue, Robinson, Brown, Catherine, Hazel, Kelsey and Moore streets. Work is expected to end by September.

Public Safety
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Water Main Breaks on Runkenhage Rd, About 15 Customers Affected

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Aquarion Water Co. announced early Wednesday afternoon that a water main ruptured under Runkenhage Road. The main was expected to be repaired by 4:30 p.m., according to the 1:11 p.m. announcement. About 15 customers on Runkenhage, Cross and Coves End roads and Tokeneke Trail were affected (links are meant to show roads, not exact locations on them). “During and after the outage event, some customers may experience discolored water,” the announcement said.

News
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Water Main Break on Noroton Avenue Thursday Morning [Updated]

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Update 3:50 p.m.:

The water main appears to have been fixed. Aquarion no longer has the notice about it on its website. Update, 1:42 p.m.:

The water main has not yet been fixed, according to Aquarion Water Co., which at 1:18 p.m. updated its original announcement without changing it. Original article, 11:19 a.m.:

A 12-inch-diameter water main pipe near 283 Noroton Ave. was reported ruptured at 8:38 a.m. Thursday, according to Aquarion Water Co., and is expected to be repaired between 12:30 and 2:30 p.m.

About 25 water customers on Noroton Avenue, Bouton Lane and Pine Street were affected by the pipe rupture. Water pipes are more frequent in either severely cold weather or when the weather goes from below freezing to warmer temperatures, according to Aquarion.

Around Town
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Aquarion Water Co. Tests May Discolor Water on Various Town Streets

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Aquarion Water Co. announced Friday that water on various streets in town (see list, below) may discolor water and create low water pressure for short periods this coming Tuesday through Friday. Here’s the announcement:

Aquarion will be performing fire flow tests between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 16 thru Friday, Feb. 19, weather permitting.