|
DEC Lifts Drought Watch Statewide, Return to Normal
Status in all 62 Counties
Published: January 03, 2025
at 03:00 p.m.
By: Press Release
from NYS DEC
DEC Lifts Drought Watch Statewide, Return to Normal
Status in all 62 Counties
Localized Dry Conditions in Some Areas
New Yorkers Encouraged to be Vigilant about
Unnecessary Water Use
The New York
State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today
updated drought conditions across the state, returning all 62 New York
counties to “Normal” status. In cooperation with the State's Drought
Management Task Force, DEC updated drought
status from “Drought Watch” to “Normal” statewide,
including New York City, after assessing recent precipitation and
elevated levels of ground and surface water. While statewide and
regional hydrological conditions have notably improved, localized dry conditions
may persist and despite encouraging hydrological conditions, New
Yorkers are urged to continue reducing unnecessary water use and waste,
fixing leaks, and choosing efficient water fixtures.
“Recent
precipitation and the vigilance of New Yorkers who heeded calls to conserve
water resources have alleviated dry conditions across the state,” said
DEC Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar. “DEC experts will continue to
monitor conditions and work with New York City officials and localities
across the state to identify any necessary steps and actions needed to
help prevent additional shortages while New York State moves from a
Drought Watch to Normal conditions.”
New York State
drought Region IIA, which includes New York City and Westchester County, is
among the regions moving to normal status due to the satisfactory
storage levels and refill probability of the New York City reservoirs.
“The lifting of
the drought watch underscores the critical role of DEP’s strategic planning
and adaptive management of New York City’s critical water resources,” said
New York City Chief Climate Officer and DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala. “I’m grateful to our fellow City
agencies for their partnership and to all New Yorkers for their
conservation efforts, which helped us save water. Let’s continue to use
water wisely to ensure the resilience and reliability of the city’s water
supply system.”
According to the
New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the City's
reservoirs are at more than 75 percent capacity with over 420 billion
gallons in storage. DEC continues to work closely with DEP to monitor
reservoir conditions and encourage responsible water use, especially
outdoors, regardless of the hydrological conditions or season.
Following the
declaration, DEC briefed the State Drought Management Task Force and
federal partner agencies. A map of New York State drought conditions is
available on the DEC website.
New York State
encourages ongoing water conservation to ensure adequate supply for all
emergency uses. To protect water resources, homeowners are encouraged
to voluntarily reduce water use and follow these tips:
- Reuse water collected in rain barrels,
dehumidifiers or air conditioners to water plants.
- Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways
and sidewalks.
- Fix leaking pipes, fixtures, toilets, hoses
and faucets.
- Wash only full loads of dishes and laundry.
- Take shorter showers
or fill the bathtub partly.
- Install water saving plumbing fixtures.
- Don’t run the tap to make water
hot or cold.
- Wash cars less frequently.
Visit the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense for more tips on saving water
indoors and outdoors. DEC has been a WaterSense
partner since 2014.
Private Water
Wells
For water wells
that may be affected by drought, see the information and links below. Contact a registered water well contractor to
discuss appropriate options for your individual situation.
- Check that the well is dry due to drought and
no other issues. Sometimes the solution is quite simple, like a broken
valve or electrical issue. The only way to definitively tell if a well
is dry is to measure the water level in the well.
- Conserve water year-round to help prevent the
effects of drought on water wells.
- Consider adding a water storage tank to help
get through dry periods.
- Clean or redevelop existing wells.
- Deepen existing wells or drill a new well. If
drilling a new well, properly decommission the old well to protect
groundwater quality.
State Drought
Index
Drought stages
are calculated using the State Drought Index, which evaluates whether
several drought indicators have reached critical thresholds. DEC experts
track and evaluate drought conditions based on stream flows, lake and
reservoir storage levels, and groundwater levels. These factors, and the
duration of the dry period, season, and other information such as past and
forecasted precipitation, weather patterns, and local conditions, are used
by DEC to evaluate drought conditions across the state. The State Drought
Index is attuned to the specific attributes of New York and may differ
moderately from some national technical drought assessments.
DEC and the U.S.
Geological Survey are partners in evaluating hydrologic conditions across
New York State. In addition, DEC supports efforts by local governments and
stakeholders to undertake water conservation measures based on specific
local circumstances.
For more water-saving tips, visit DEC's webpage. For more information about drought in New York, visit the
Water Use and Conservation webpage.
|
