The state Department of Environmental Protection announced Friday that it will maintain the statewide drought watch issued last month.

The decision was shared via a news release Friday following a meeting of the Commonwealth Drought Task Force earlier this week.

The DEP first declared a drought watch on Tuesday, June 15.

Amid the watch, residents and non-farm businesses are encouraged to voluntarily conserve water by reducing nonessential water use.

The DEP makes drought status recommendations based on four criteria: stream flow, groundwater level, precipitation and soil moisture.

For Butler County, groundwater levels are within “drought watch” territory.