Ridgefield News
August 28, 1999
Democrats Urge Changes In Water Restrictions
Water Emergency Continues; Democrats Urge Restrictions Be Extended To All Residents Equally
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| Water use data shows that consumption of BHC-supplied water has declined since restrictions were first imposed during July. While the temperature data shows cooler weather of late, it is clear that water use began declining even during the unusually hot July weather. There is no data on water consumption by Ridgefield residents with private wells, although the fact that several wells in town have gone dry recently would indicate there is continued net depletion of the aquifer. |
-- Water use data courtesy of Bridgeport Hydraulic Co. Weather information from The Weather Underground, Inc. - observations at Danbury. Graphic by Ridgefield Democrats.
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August 28 -- With Ridgefield's water emergency about to enter its third month, Democratic Selectmen Mike Jones and Barbara Manners have urged that water use restrictions be applied to residents with private wells, as well as those who get their water from the local water company. Only about 1/4 of the houses in Ridgefield, which are supplied by Bridgeport Hydraulic, are subject to the emergency order passed June 29, which restricts watering of lawns and car washing. According to Selectman Jones, "It is vital that the town extend the Water Emergency Ordinance so the
water restrictions include all 8,000 homes in Ridgefield. There are no
reservoirs in Ridgefield -- all of the water in town comes from about
6,000 wells sucking from the same aquifers. The town must act to protect
this vital natural resource upon which we all depend." Selectman Manners pointed out, "The aquifers under Ridgefield from which both BHC and private wells draw their water are a classic example of a common property under collective ownership... in economic jargon, a "commons" is a property that everyone can abuse but for which nobody is responsible."
According to Jones, the town attorney has found it feasible for the town to regulate private wells in a water emergency, but the three GOP members of the Board of Selectman rebuffed Jones and Manners when they attempted to extend the restrictions to private wells. While cooler weather and recent rains have pushed thoughts of drought from most Ridgefielders' minds, the fact is that both river flow and aquifer level in this area are at extremely low levels, and the water emergency remains in force.
Read Selectman Jones' essay, "On Protecting Whales and Wells"
See our earlier story
U.S. Geological Survey Home Page on Ct. water resources - includes drought condition updates
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