(WNY News Now) As drought conditions worsen and wildfires become a greater hazard throughout the state, Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams advise New Yorkers to practice water conservation.
Due to a persistent lack of rainfall and diminishing groundwater and streamflow levels, Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams today raised 15 counties to drought warning status and issued a statewide drought watch. Bronx, Delaware, Dutchess, Greene, Kings, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Schoharie, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester are among the counties that are under drought warning. Residents in the impacted counties, especially those who rely on private groundwater wells, are being urged by New York State to use as little water as possible in the upcoming weeks.
A statewide drought watch and drought warning status have been imposed on counties in the Hudson Valley and New York City area due to dry conditions caused by recent abnormally warm weather and a lack of precipitation, Governor Hochul stated.To help avoid a more severe shortage until things improve, municipal water restrictions and teaching New Yorkers how to help preserve water supplies are essential measures throughout the state.
Mayor Eric Adams of New York City stated, “Today, I’m upgrading our drought watch to a drought warning, pausing our Delaware Aqueduct repair project, and ordering our agencies to immediately implement water saving measures as our city and watershed continue to experience significant precipitation shortages.” Although our city cars and subways may appear a little dirtier, this is what we must do in order to prevent or postpone a more severe drought disaster. In order to fill our pools and water our parks this summer, we also need New Yorkers to keep conserving water. People in New York always watch out for one another. Together, we are strong enough to overcome this.
State drought advisories fall into four categories: emergency, disaster, warning, and watch. Under a state drought watch, no restrictions are required. During a drought warning, industries and public water suppliers are encouraged to update and implement local drought contingency plans, and voluntary water conservation is increased. In the event of an emergency declaration, local agencies prepare. No wildfire efforts will be impacted by this. New York State promotes continuous water conservation to guarantee a sufficient supply for all emergency applications.
The State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) briefed federal partner agencies and the State Drought Management Task Force after the announcement. The DEC website has a map of the drought conditions in New York State.
Following a record-breaking drought, New York City declared a citywide drought watch on November 2, directing city departments to revise water conservation plans and get ready to implement them. The administration also encouraged the public to help conserve water. Water conservation can delay or perhaps prevent the prospect of a severe shortage by slowing the rate at which the city’s reservoirs’ stored water is being depleted.Homeowners in areas under drought watch or warning are urged to voluntarily cut back on water use and heed these recommendations in order to preserve water resources:
- 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.
For additional advice on conserving water both indoors and outdoors, see the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense website. Since 2014, DEC has been a partner of WaterSense.
Individual Water Wells
Please refer to the information and links below on water wells that may be impacted by drought.Speak with a licensed water well contractor about the best course of action for your particular circumstance.
- 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.
Index of State Drought
The State Drought Index, which takes into account precipitation, lake and reservoir levels, stream flow, and groundwater levels in the state’s nine drought zones, sets off drought watches and alerts. Based on how important each of these indicators is to different purposes in a region, each one is given a weighted value. Some national technical drought assessments may differ somewhat from the State Drought Index, which is tailored to the unique characteristics of New York.In order to assess the hydrologic conditions throughout New York State, DEC collaborates with the U.S. Geological Survey. Furthermore, DEC encourages local governments and interested parties to implement water-saving strategies tailored to their unique local conditions.
Risk of Wildfire
Governor Hochul declared a statewide burn restriction on Tuesday in an effort to help prevent fires, as the dry weather continues to increase the risk of wildfires throughout New York State. The risk of fire is very high in the Hudson Valley and Long Island; it is now moderate in the Adirondack, High Peaks, Lake Ontario, Southern Tier, Catskill, Upper Hudson Valley/Champlain, St. Lawrence, and Leatherstocking areas. The Fire Danger Map webpage maintained by DEC provides up-to-date information on fire danger levels.
Any outdoor fire has the potential to spread swiftly, particularly in the event of increased wind. In New York State, burning leaves is prohibited everywhere. A specific size of brush could burn. For more information, see the burning regulations.
One of the top five causes of wildfires is campfires. New Yorkers are encouraged to do the following when camping in the backcountry:
- Use existing campfire rings where possible.
- Build campfires away from overhanging branches, steep slopes, rotten stumps, logs, dry grass, and leaves. Pile extra wood away from the fire.
- Clear the area around the ring of leaves, twigs, and other flammable materials.
- Never leave a campfire unattended. Even a small breeze could cause the fire to spread quickly.
- Drown the fire with water. Make sure all embers, coals, and sticks are wet. Move rocks as there may be burning embers underneath.
Check out DEC’s website for additional water-saving advice. To learn more about New York’s drought, go to the Water Use and Conservation website.