Water restrictions ease as reservoirs overflow

After weeks of wet weather, the city is lifting the voluntary water restrictions it imposed last fall.
City reservoirs have been overflowing for the past two months, long enough to put aside the conservation measures mandated by its emergency plan.
Both Mayor Art Ward and Water Superintendent Robert Longo said the restrictions were no longer needed.
Even so, Ward said, the city is still asking residents to make “an effort to conserve” as warmer days approach.
Longo said residents should continue to adhere to the odd-even use of outside water, for everything from gardens to washing cars.
The odd-even system, which is voluntary, allows for properties with an even street number to water on even days of the month while those with odd street number use outside water on odd days of the month.
As recently as September, the reservoirs were down 30 percent from capacity, short almost 3 billion gallons. That was the trigger point for the voluntary restrictions called for last fall.
Back in 1999, during a drought, the reservoirs were only half full and officials banned watering and other unnecessary uses of water. A hurricane rolled in just in time to prevent an even more serious clampdown.
Longo said the wet weather and “great cooperation from our customers” made it possible for the reservoirs to fill again over the winter.
With the reservoirs now at capacity, the water department is beginning its annual hydrant flushing program on Monday.
A list of areas that will be flushed will be posted on the department’s website and in the newspapers, as well as on Nutmeg TV, the public access station for cable television.Anyone with questions about the city’s water supply or the hydrant flushing program may contact the Water Department at (860) 582-7431 or visit the department’s website at www.bristolwaterdept.org.

*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com