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Danbury water director pitches twice‑weekly ‘smart water’ irrigation policy after heat‑driven drawdown
Summary
Danbury’s water director reported reservoirs at about 95% but said a recent heat spell and heavy automated irrigation caused storage‑tank drawdown. He proposed a ‘smart water’ irrigation policy limiting automated irrigation to twice per week, scheduled by odd/even addresses; the policy will be drafted and brought back to the council.
The city’s water director told the Danbury City Council on July 2 that reservoirs are at roughly 95% of capacity but that excessive automated irrigation during a recent heat wave stressed the distribution system and caused storage tanks on the west side to drop below desired levels.
David Day, director of the Water Department, said the department plans to roll out a “smart water, irrigation policy” that would limit automated irrigation systems — including large condominium and commercial systems — to twice‑weekly watering. Day described a proposed schedule split by address numbering (odd/even), for example Saturday/Tuesday for one set of addresses and Sunday/Wednesday for the other. "A lot of water companies, and we're going down that same road, is we're gonna limit these irrigation systems ... to twice a week," he said.
Day said the restriction is aimed at reducing nighttime demand that prevented plants from filling storage tanks during the recent heat event: "On day 3, we actually couldn't produce enough water to keep up with filling the water storage tanks on the West Side," he said. He told the council the department has already begun conversations with managers of large developments and irrigation contractors to coordinate staggered schedules within multi‑unit complexes.
Council members asked about exemptions and logistics for developments with many units that do not fit a simple odd/even address model; Day said staff will meet with large complexes, coordinate schedules and include language to allow the Water Department to direct alternative timetables where needed. He said the policy is still being drafted and will be presented to the council for formal adoption.
No formal vote was taken on the policy at the July 2 meeting; councilors agreed to expedite the policy language and bring it back for formal action. The Water Department emphasized the measure is intended to protect system pressure and ensure regular drinking water availability rather than to indicate a citywide shortage.
Background detail: the water director said the system experienced sustained heavy irrigation use starting June 19 and that normal production recovered after the temporary restriction; reservoirs were reported at about 95% at the time of the meeting.
