Governor Calls For  Water Conservation

HARTFORD — Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell is asking residents and businesses to limit their water use as groundwater and stream levels continue to decrease during the prolonged hot and dry weather.

Gov Rell said the state is not in an emergency situation, but there is not much rain expected in the next two weeks and conditions are likely to deteriorate across the state.

The governor also says the fire danger in the state remains high. And her drought advisory workgroup says a high number of days with temperatures over 90 degrees have boosted evaporation rates and reduced groundwater and stream levels to the lower end of their normal ranges.

The National Weather Service has reported the Hartford area received just under 25 inches of precipitation this year, about four inches below normal.