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Aquarion Water Utility: Please Keep Conserving Water, Reservoirs Still Low

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A drought continues across Connecticut, but water demand remains higher than average, Aquarion Water Co. says as it urges residents to conserve more. One way of doing so is turning off sprinkler and irrigation systems — one of the suggestions in a news release from the company (republished below). In Darien Town Hall, the water company has a free “water conservation kit” (see attached picture) that includes a small “low-flow aerator” device you can screw onto a faucet. “A faucet aerator is one of the most effective water saving devices you can use in your home,” according to a brochure in the conservation kit.

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Aquarion Water Co. Asks Customers to Conserve Water

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Aquarion Water Company is asking customers to conserve water since rainfall has been scarce recently and reservoirs and wells are getting low. Here’s the announcement (on the Darien town government website) from Aquarion:

With a lack of significant rainfall, and as a result of the Connecticut Department of Public Health’s advisory for voluntary water conservation, Aquarion Water Company is asking its customers to voluntarily conserve water and stop nonessential outdoor water use. Connecticut is currently experiencing conditions ranging from “abnormally dry” to “moderate drought” due to an extended dry spell, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). With below average rainfall and water demand 9.3% higher this season compared to the same period last year, and using over 9 million gallons more per day, Aquarion’s reservoirs and wells are below normal capacity “Due to current conditions, Aquarion is advising customers to voluntarily reduce their water use,” said Charles V. Firlotte, Aquarion President and CEO. “It is important for all of our customers to assist in this effort, to ensure everyone in our entire at-large community has the water they need, when they need it.”

Aquarion recommends ways to use water more efficiently, while helping conservation efforts:

Consider shutting off irrigations systems for the season or reduce irrigation to twice a week.

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Dripping Faucet Angelo Gonzalez

UPDATE: Aquarion Working on ‘Earthy’ Taste, Smell in Darien Water

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Update 4:58 p.m.:

The water utility serving Darien, Stamford and much of the surrounding area will be testing water samples on Wednesday to try to gauge whether the “musty” taste and odor in some of the water is increasing or decreasing, a spokesman said. Customers in the southern portion of Darien as well as in parts of Stamford experienced the “musty” taste and odor of tap water in the past two weeks, from the North Stamford Reservoir that provides water to those two areas, said Peter Fazekas, a spokesman for Aquarion Water Co. (The northern part of Darien gets its water from a different source in Bridgeport, he said. Areas of Greenwich that experienced a similar problem get their water from the Mianus Reservoir, and the situation has vastly improved there, “to the point where it’s almost not an issue,” Fazekas said.)

Update, 3:34 p.m.:

The “unpleasant taste and odor” in some Darien and Stamford tap water is caused by a problem in a Stamford reservoir, said Peter Fazekas, a spokesman for Aquarion Water Co. The water utility, which has an announcement on its website about the problem, says customers experiencing an “earthy” or “musty” taste and smell in the water shouldn’t be alarmed for health reasons — the water is perfectly safe — and treatment of the water in the reservoir has started.

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Water Main Break to Close Darien YMCA at 9:30 PM Wednesday, Repairs Overnight

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A six-inch water main has disrupted service in the neighborhood of Darien YMCA, the organization says, and it has announced that overnight repairs will require the Y to close down at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday. Aquarion Water Co. says the water main is in the vicinity of Seagate Road, which is just to the east of the YMCA. In a 2:07 p.m. announcement, the utility said about 20 customers were affected and repairs were expected to be complete by 5 to 7 p.m.

But the more recent YMCA announcement on Facebook, shortly after 5 p.m., has a much later timeframe. Here’s what the YMCA said:
Due to a water main break in the neighborhood, the water will need to be shut off at 9:30 PM this evening.