Norwich — The Connecticut Water Planning Council will meet at the offices of the Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments on Tuesday for the first of three public forums to receive input and feedback to help develop the state’s first comprehensive State Water Plan.

The meeting will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the SCCOG offices at 5 Connecticut Ave.

Public participation is crucial to the development of the plan as the state confronts issues with climate change, drought, and water use, the council said in a news release. Other forums this week will take place in New Britain on Wednesday and on Thursday in Southbury.

The Connecticut Water Planning Council and its consultant, CDM Smith, in association with Milone and MacBroom, have begun a State Water Plan at the urging of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and legislative leaders. The three public meetings this week will allow residents to learn more about the state water planning process, ask questions, and share concerns about water and its uses during the early stages of the planning process. The State Water Plan will ultimately recommend a framework for managing Connecticut’s water into the future, and help balance the way water meets all residents' needs as new climate trends emerge and new needs develop, the council said. The plan will address the quality and quantity of water for drinking, ecology, recreation, industry, agriculture, energy and wastewater assimilation.

Representatives from the Water Planning Council will be at each of these three meetings, along with the directors of the project from CDM Smith.