(WNY News Now) Although the drought status has been upgraded and limitations in NYC and 10 counties have been loosened, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) continues to advise citizens to practice water conservation.
An update on drought conditions around the state was released today by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Due to recent rains and increased ground and surface water levels, the State’s Drought Management Task Force changed the drought status for New York City and ten other counties from Drought Warning to Drought Watch. The 62 counties that make up New York are currently under Drought Watch. New Yorkers are encouraged to keep cutting back on wasteful water use, repairing leaks, and selecting energy-efficient fixtures even in the face of favorable hydrological circumstances.
New Yorkers should be cautious about water use and conservation even though recent precipitation has eased the dry conditions in several counties, stated DEC Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar.Under Governor Hochul’s direction, DEC specialists will keep an eye on the situation and collaborate with communities throughout the state to determine what needs to be done to preserve water supplies and help avert more serious shortages.
The counties of Bronx, Delaware, Dutchess, Greene, Kings, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Schoharie, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester are all going back to being under Drought Watch. State drought advisories fall into four categories: emergency, disaster, warning, and watch. A Drought Watch carries no obligatory restrictions.
DEC briefed federal partner agencies and the State Drought Management Task Force after the declaration. 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. On November 18, in addition to the Drought Warning issued for 15 counties, a statewide Drought Watch was implemented. 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.New York State promotes continuous water conservation to guarantee a sufficient supply for all emergency applications. Homeowners are urged to voluntarily cut back on water use and heed these recommendations in order to preserve water resources:
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Reuse water collected in rain barrels, dehumidifiers or air conditioners to water plants.
- Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways and sidewalks.
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Fix leaking pipes, fixtures, toilets, hoses and faucets.
- Wash only full loads of dishes and laundry.
- Take shorter showers or fill the bathtub partly.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 assesses whether a number of drought indicators have hit key levels, is used to determine the phases of drought. 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.
Formore water-saving tips, visit DEC s webpage. Formore information about drought in New York, visit the Water Use and Conservation webpage.Press releases: https://dec.ny.gov/news
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