(WTNH) — The Connecticut Office of Policy & Management is asking everyone to limit their water use. The statewide drought advisory has been in effect since June, and groundwater levels in some parts of the state are at or near record lows. Residents and businesses are asked to voluntarily reduce water use by 10% and to avoid unnecessary water usage.
Limiting water use – even during a drought – isn’t always easy. Some businesses, like car washes, have to use a lot of water. However, car wash employees say people who want to get their cars sparkling clean will actually save water by taking them to a car wash.
“They’ll use 15 or 20 gallons at home and they’ll use three to four gallons at a car wash, so really it is a huge savings,” said Adam Scheps, General Manager of Sponge Brothers Car Wash in Orange.
Sponge Brothers has a water reclaim system, which also helps save water. It’s something employees use all the time, whether we’re in a drought or not. They’ve noticed that when the weather is dry, they often have more cars to wash.
“It may help business, for those people that are sensitive to say, hey, I don’t want to wash at home, I’ll go to a professional car wash, use less water,” said Scheps.
Meanwhile, homeowners are asked to save water too, whether they use a public water supplier or a well. Some parents of kids who play sports have ways of using less tap water while also making getting ready for games a little bit easier.
“I don’t really do the faucet water,” said homeowner Jose Cortes. “I pretty much buy cases and cases of bottled water.”
Other people have cut back on some of the chores that use water.
“Generally I water my garden a couple of times, twice a week,” said Anthony Formato of Bridgeport. “I’ve been doing that once a week to save some water.”
For some, that means fewer car washes. However, car wash employees say they’re aware of how much water they’re using. They’re already using as little of it as they can.
“We can’t harm people’s cars to cut it back down, but we are just using a minimal amount of water every single day,” said Scheps.
Several water companies have asked or required their customers to conserve water. Despite the drought, water levels in most of the state’s larger reservoirs and water systems are stable.
