Drought Declaration Remains Unchanged In PA After Task Force Meeting

Following a meeting Thursday of the Commonwealth Drought Task Force, the Department of Environmental Protection made no changes in county drought declarations: 8 counties remain in drought warning status and 26 remain on drought watch.

“Recent precipitation has improved a number of indicators, but it hasn’t brought these counties to normal status,” said DEP Acting Secretary Patrick McDonnell.

DEP bases its declarations on four indicators: precipitation deficits (averaged from numerous gauges), stream flows, groundwater levels, and soil moisture.

Carbon, Juniata, Lehigh, Mifflin, Monroe, Northampton, Snyder, and Union Counties remain on drought warning status. DEP encourages a voluntary water use reduction of 10–15 percent.

Counties on drought watch are Adams, Bedford, Berks, Bucks, Centre, Chester, Clinton, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lebanon, Luzerne, Montgomery, Northumberland, Perry, Philadelphia, Pike, Schuylkill, Sullivan, Wayne, and York Counties.

A 5 percent reduction in water use is encouraged.

Conditions in western Pennsylvania and along the northern tier generally have remained at normal or above normal levels.

Public water systems continue to implement voluntary and mandatory water reductions in response to reduced supplies.

The Drought Task Force will meet next in early February.

DEP suggests several steps citizens can take to voluntarily reduce their water use:

-- Run water only when necessary. Don’t let the faucet run while brushing your teeth or shaving. Shorten the amount of time you let the water run to warm up before you shower. Use a bucket to catch the water and then reuse it to water your plants;

-- Run the dishwasher and washing machine only with full loads;

-- Check for household leaks. A leaking toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water each day;

-- Replace older appliances with high-efficiency, front-loading models that use about 30 percent less water and 40 to 50 percent less energy; and

-- Install low-flow plumbing fixtures and aerators on faucets.

DEP also offers other water conservation recommendations and water audit procedures for commercial and industrial users, such as food processors, hotels and educational institutions.

For more information on saving water and drought conditions, visit DEP’s Drought Status webpage.