DEP recommends water conservation, declares drought watch in state
Pennsylvania residents and businesses are encouraged to reduce their nonessential water use in light of a statewide drought watch declared Tuesday, June 15, by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
“Although this week has brought some welcome rain to much of the state, it’s not enough to make up for the lack of rainfall this spring, following a winter that brought little snowfall in many areas,” Rich Negrin, DEP acting secretary, said. “As a result, we're seeing lowered stream flows, dropping groundwater levels and persistent precipitation deficits.
“Water conservation, always a good practice, is especially helpful now as it’ll lessen potential future impacts on water supplies if rainfall continues to be scant this summer.”
According to Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding, it is critical that farm operators plan to cushion against future weather-related losses, keep track of current losses and take advantage of federal crop insurance. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources also urges Pennsylvanians to be aware of increased fire risk.
Residents can view county-specific updates on the USGS Pennsylvania drought condition monitoring website.
Water Conservation Tips
– Skip the car wash.
– Run the dishwasher and washing machine less often.
– Water your garden in the cooler evening or morning hours.
– Water your lawn only if necessary.
– Check for and repair household leaks.
– Set up a rain barrel to be ready to repurpose rain when it does fall.
DEP makes drought watch, warning or emergency declaration recommendations based on four numeric indicators: stream flow, groundwater level, precipitation and soil moisture.
There are normal ranges for all four indicators. DEP makes its drought declarations after assessing the departures from these normal ranges for periods of three to 12 months. DEP also factors in information it receives from public water suppliers.
Source: www.dep.pa.gov
