Utility: 2020 Shenipsit Lake Level Actually Ahead Of 2019

TOLLAND COUNTY, CT — As a state agency intensifies its drought warnings for the north-central part of the state, the public utility that oversees the largest water source in Tolland County said 2020 levels are actually ahead of last year's.

Shenipsit Lake, the primary reservoir in the region, sits in parts of Tolland, Vernon and Ellington and has a capacity of 5 billion gallons.

Connecticut Water Co. spokesman Daniel Meaney said this week that the lake is currently at 88 percent of capacity, which is slightly higher than last year at this time.

Meaney said wise and conservative water use is being suggested nevertheless as the state goes through a long spell of predominantly dry weather.

Meanwhile the Connecticut Interagency Drought Workgroup announced this week an "increased concern" that "significant" parts of Connecticut, Tolland County included, are experiencing continued drought conditions.

Current conditions are "cause for increased concern potentially impacting water supplies, agriculture or natural ecosystems," the statement said.

Residents and businesses are being asked by the agency to voluntarily take the following measures:

• Reduce outdoor irrigation and other non-essential outdoor uses of water.
• Postpone the planting of any new lawns or vegetation (if new plantings cannot be postponed, consider drought-tolerant species).
• Minimize overall water use by fixing leaky plumbing and fixtures.
• Follow conservation requests or mandates issued by public water systems, municipalities or state agencies.

The Snip is "just one of a number of water sources for our Northern-Western water system," Meaney said while adding, "We have hit the first trigger in our drought response plan in two of our water systems."

Those are the Stafford System, which serves customers in Stafford, and the Guilford System, which serves customers in Clinton, Guilford, Madison, Old Saybrook and Westbrook. More formal conversation efforts have been recommended for customers using those systems, Meaney said.