Fairfield County Systems Expected to Hit Drought Triggers
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – June 29, 2026 – With warmer conditions and the lack of significant rainfall, Aquarion expects to hit drought triggers in some of its Fairfield County systems in the next two weeks. The U.S. Drought Monitor has declared a moderate-to-severe drought across this service area. As a result, Aquarion is reminding Fairfield County customers in the following towns to follow the mandatory, twice-weekly irrigation schedule:
Bethel, Bridgeport, Darien, Easton, Fairfield, Greenwich, Monroe, New Canaan, Newtown, Redding, Ridgefield, Shelton, Stamford, Stratford, Trumbull, Weston, Westport, and Wilton.
By following the twice-weekly schedule, Aquarion hopes to avoid more severe restrictions on outdoor water use later this summer. The rainfall deficit over the past 365 days ranges from 10 to 18 inches across the region; as a result, reservoir levels are unusually low.
Mandatory, Twice-Weekly Irrigation Schedule
| Last digit of your address number | Please water only on: |
|---|---|
| 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8 (even numbers) | Sunday & Wednesday 12:01 a.m. - 10:00 a.m., or 6:00 p.m. - Midnight |
| 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9 (odd numbers) | Saturday & Tuesday 12:01 a.m. - 10:00 a.m., or 6:00 p.m. - Midnight |
| No address number | Sunday & Wednesday 12:01 a.m. - 10:00 a.m., or 6:00 p.m. - Midnight |
The twice-weekly irrigation schedule is designed to prevent overwatering while meeting the needs of the vast majority of landscapes, and is credited with saving hundreds of millions of gallons of water each year. The irrigation schedule is an important part of Aquarion’s plan to reduce the impact on reservoirs during the warmer months when demand is at its peak. To learn more, visit www.aquarionwater.com/watering.
“With continued dry conditions and the potential to reach key drought triggers in the coming weeks, Aquarion is urging customers to take immediate steps to reduce their outdoor water use,” said Lucy Teixeira, Aquarion President. “Everyone plays an important role in protecting our water supply, and by following the mandatory irrigation schedule now, we can help avoid more severe restrictions later this summer.”
Six Simple Ways to Conserve Water Outdoors
- Let your grass grow longer. This will encourage deeper roots and keep your grass cool and moist during dry spells.
- Avoid watering in the middle of the day. This will reduce evaporation and allow more water to reach your lawn’s root zone.
- Hold off on watering if the forecast calls for rain.
- Water gardens by hand. Automated systems use significantly more water than necessary.
- Use a rain barrel to capture water running from your roof to use in your garden.
- Delay new landscaping projects until the fall.
For additional conservation tips and information, visit www.aquarionwater.com/conserve.