DEC issued a
heightened Drought Warning for much of the Catskill, Hudson Valley, and New
York City regions. The rest of the State remains under a previously declared
Drought Watch.
This
map can be also found on DEC's Current Drought Conditions webpage.
A
"warning" is the second of four levels of state drought advisories
("watch," "warning," "emergency" and
"disaster"). There are no statewide mandatory water use restrictions
in place under a drought watch or warning but citizens are strongly encouraged
to voluntarily conserve water. Local public water suppliers may impose water
use restrictions depending upon local needs and conditions.
To protect water
resources, homeowners in regions under the drought watch or drought warning 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.
New York State
Department of Health is in contact with public water suppliers to convey any
potential steps they need to take. For water wells that may be affected by
drought:
- 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
- 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.
The DEC has also issued a statewide burn ban until Nov. 30.
This burn ban prohibits the starting of outdoor fires statewide for purposes of brush and debris disposal, as well as uncontained campfires, and open fires used for cooking. Backyard fire pits and contained campfires less than three feet in height and four feet in length, width, or diameter are allowed, as are small, contained cooking fires. Burning garbage or leaves is prohibited year-round in New York State. Several municipalities also have burn bans in effect.
Governor Hochul also issued a related press release. For more information and that
full press release, visit the Governor's website.
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