Water pg 1 7-26-12
- Details
- Category: Past Issues
Water ban
remains
in Putnam
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM --- Recent rainstorms did little to ease the tight water situation in Putnam and the mandatory water use ban remains in place, according to Jerry Beausoleil, public works director.
Lack of rainfall thus far this summer caused the water level in the Little River to fall below the "trigger point" of 9.04 cubic feet per second. According to Consent Order the town signed in 2008 with the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, once the water levels fall below that mark, the town cannot use the Little River for potable water.
The town does have a contract with Connecticut Water Company to supply up water, which added to the water taken from the town's two well fields, would supply the water needed for all customers.
However, Beausoleil said, Connecticut Water Company also has an obligation to supply Lake Road Generating and did not have enough to supply both Lake Generating and Putnam last week.
Therefore, the town put a mandatory water ban. Beausoleil said the ban means no nonessential water use is allowed by town water customers including: No car washing, no watering flowers, no lawn watering, no sidewalk cleaning with hoses. "Nonessential use is banned," Beausoleil said. He added that customers can water vegetable gardens, but they must use a nozzle on the hose or use a watering can. "No sprinklers," he said. He also asked that customers conserve water inside the house as well.
He said when the mandatory ban is lifted or changed, customers will be notified via WINY Radio and the Norwich Bulletin.
Beausoleil said the state has given the town emergency permission to use the Little River water although it might be below the trigger point level. The town has seven new wells; however, studies on the new wells are not complete. He said those wells may come on line between September and December of this year.