BRIDGEPORT — Aquarion Water Company on March 26 announced a mandatory ban on non-essential outdoor water use for customers in Bethel and Newtown. This measure is being taken as the company continues to utilize its interconnection with the Eastern Fairfield County system while its primary source of water supply, the Newtown wellfield, remains offline.

Last August, Aquarion’s Newtown wellfield sustained severe damage from a rainstorm and flooding, resulting in it being taken offline. The collapse of a railroad structure downstream of the wells continues to block the normal flow of the Pootatuck River. The wellfield remains non-functional and will be out of service until the Housatonic Railroad removes all remaining debris and restores the stream flow for the river. Once the river restoration project is complete and there is adequate separation from Aquarion’s wells, the company can complete its wellfield repairs.

“Our top priority is to bring our primary water source for Newtown and Bethel back online. We are staying in close contact with the property owner regarding the river restoration project so we can complete repairs to our wellfield as quickly and safely as possible,” said Lucy Teixeira, president of Aquarion. “It is crucial that our customers in Newtown and Bethel limit water use to essential needs until the full water supply capacity is restored. We greatly appreciate your patience as this restoration project continues.”

Newtown Public Works Director Fred Hurley characterized it as a precautionary measure, because Eversource has concerns about water levels this summer. He said that while the area is “moving out of drought conditions,” the town is “not entirely out.”

He also said that there are currently wells that are not producing, but the existing waterline is bringing equivalent water to the area, and that it is anticipated that supply from eastern reservoirs “might be a problem this summer.”

“It’s better to act now than wait until it’s a problem this summer,” Hurley said.

Newtown First Selectman Jeff Capeci told The Newtown Bee that he had been in “regular contact with Aquarion since the flood last August.”

“Given the multi-million dollar cost to remove the bridge debris and restore the stream, resolving this issue is proving difficult,” stated Capeci.

Capeci stated he held a meeting with stakeholders, including the Housatonic Railroad Co, Aquarion, and State Representative Mitch Bolinsky on Monday, where Aquarion presented the water restriction plan. He stated the meeting also addressed “the insufficient pressure in the town’s fire hydrants that are supplied by Aquarion, which would hamper efforts to combat a significant fire, and we considered potential contingency plans.”

The outdoor water uses listed below are considered non-essential and are currently not permitted. These mandatory restrictions are in place to conserve water and ensure that the limited supply is used for essential needs. This restriction will remain in effect through 2025, or until the Pootatuck River flow is no longer impeded.

Prohibited outdoor water uses include: Lawn watering by irrigation system or hose-end sprinkler; car washing, except for commercial car washes; washing of exterior building surfaces, such as decks, sidewalks, parking lots, and driveways, except as needed to apply coatings; and filling of swimming pools (permitted to use trucked pool water service that doesn’t utilize this system’s water).

The outdoor water uses below are considered essential and are permitted. Aquarion may issue further water use restrictions if required.

Permitted outdoor water uses include: Irrigation to meet a core commercial function (sprinkler irrigation must be completed between 9 pm and 5 am); golf course greens and tees, and limited watering of fairways and roughs (gardens, flowers, and ornamental plants must be watered using drip irrigation or hand-held methods); wedding and special event venues (gardens, flowers, and ornamental plants must be watered using drip irrigation or hand-held methods); commercial nurseries and farms; athletic fields; professional washing of exterior surfaces as needed to apply coatings; washing of boats to prevent the impacts of saltwater and the transfer of invasive species; and hand-held watering or drip irrigation of residential gardens and ornamental plantings.

For questions about these mandatory, non-essential outdoor water use restrictions or your water usage, contact Aquarion’s customer service center at 1-800-732-9678 or visit aquarionwater.com/newtown-bethel-update.

Editor Jim Taylor can be reached at jim@thebee.com.