Despite the fact that we get about 48 inches of precipitation annually, we still can experience periods that are classified as drought here. Although it can be said that drought is part of our natural cycle here in Connecticut, higher global temperatures have impacted our precipitation patterns. Over the last century, our annual precipitation totals have not changed substantially, however we are experiencing more extreme precipitation events, along with, you guessed it: longer and more intense droughts. These extremes are easy to see: in 2020 and 2021, we saw extreme drought conditions in the state; in 2023 the state received around 65 inches of precipitation, the third highest on record. These dry periods can impact local agriculture, which tends to rely on natural precipitation instead of irrigation. In extreme cases our public water supplies such as lakes/reservoirs can be impacted, causing mandatory restrictions on use of public waters. Those with a private well on their property can also be impacted by drought conditions, even if a modern drilled well is in use. Most of us take our tap water for granted. However, if your well has run dry, you are immediately reminded of how precious a resource our water really is.

The purpose of this fact sheet is to provide recommendations for residential water users to prepare for drought conditions. The primary focus is on private wells. Read the full fact sheet at s.uconn.edu/water-use