WESTPORT — As drought conditions prevail across the state, and Westport is now subject to Aquarion water company’s “mandatory irrigation program,” the town’s Office of Emergency Management urges residents to take immediate steps to conserve water.

The entire state was recently declared to be in “Stage 2 Drought” conditions caused by rainfall levels below normal, according to the state’s Interagency Drought Working Group.

Under the state’s drought plan adopted in 2018, Stage 2 identifies emerging drought conditions, which potentially could affect water supplies, agriculture or natural ecosystems, officials warn.

“Although we have received some rain and are not under any drought warnings, 89 percent of Connecticut is experiencing minor to moderate drought conditions,” Fire Chief Michael Kronick, the town’s emergency management director, said in a statement Friday.

The Office of Emergency Management recommends the following steps to help curb local water consumption:

• Cut back on automatic outdoor irrigation.

• Postpone planting any new lawn or vegetation.

• Minimize overall water use by fixing leaky plumbing and fixtures.

• Follow any conservation measures issued by water suppliers or municipalities.

Westport, and several other state communities, including nearby Fairfield, Darien, New Canaan and Greenwich, are among those where residents have been told by Aquarion to reduce using automatic sprinklers to twice weekly.

That schedule — as illustrated in the accompanying graphic — sets sprinkler-use guidelines according to a customer’s address during early-morning or nighttime hours two times a week.

Drip irrigation, soaker hoses and hand-held watering are allowed at any time, according to Aquarion.

The regulated sprinkler schedule is in effect through Oct. 1.