A statewide drought advisory issued for Rhode Island in August has been lifted.
Everything’s green now.
That’s a far cry from last summer, when Tiverton firefighters couldn’t tap Nonquit Pond because it was 3/4 empty.
The Drought Classifications range from minimal to bad this way: “normal,” “advisory,” “watch,” “warning,” and “emergency.” Dry conditions worsened last summer with lack of rainfall, and the official first level “Drought Advisory” was issued.
“There are impacts on stream flows and the groundwater conditions in Rhode Island, and everybody doesn’t necessarily see those impacts on a day to day basis,” Kathleen Crawley of the Rhode Island Water Resources Board said.
The Scituate Reservoir in Rhode Island is full now.
The reservoir was designed with a “worst case drought scenario” in mind.
While the drought is over, it’s important to note historically they happen every 10 years or so here, of varying intensity, sometimes lasting in extreme cases in four and five year stretches.
Meanwhile, Water Resources Board Chairwoman Susan Licardi said Rhode Islanders should continue to keep water conservation in mind year-round.
Conservation also helps our water suppliers manage peaks in demand, so pay attention to notifications from suppliers and be sure to adhere to the guidelines set by your city or town.” The Water Resources Board recommended the following steps for indoor and outdoor water conservation: Don’t water during the hottest part of the day when most water evaporates (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.); Try not to "over-water" your lawn.