New York City Issues Drought Warning, as Dry Conditions Persist in the Northeast

Yesterday, New York City issued its first drought warning in 22 years after months of low precipitation, requiring the city to restart an out-of-service aqueduct as water supplies run low. This comes as dry conditions persist across the Northeast U.S., sparking wildfires and threatening water availability.

Last week, New York City officials said they were concerned about low reservoir levels, especially because one of its reservoirs, the Schoharie Reservoir, was at less than a third of its capacity. This prompted the issuance of the drought warning, though that warning may be elevated to a drought emergency if dry conditions continue. In New Jersey, the Governor issued a drought warning, as the state is experiencing its driest conditions in nearly 120 years. And New Jersey American Water issued a mandatory conservation notice for all customers across the state. Dry conditions across the Northeast have also been blamed for the outbreak of numerous wildfires in parts of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts. According to U.S. Drought Monitor’s latest report, a little more than 58% of the Northeast is experiencing moderate drought or worse.

Amid these conditions, members are encouraged to assess their organization’s current drought procedures. Members should also consider consulting EPA’s Drought Resilience and Water Conservation page, which collects information and resources related to these topics, including Drought Response and Recovery: A Basic Guide for Water Utilities and a Drought Incident Action Checklist. The drought guide offers worksheets, best practices, videos, and key resources for responding to drought emergencies and building long-term resilience. It also relays lessons learned from nine small-to- medium-sized utilities nationwide that have responded to extreme drought conditions. Access the drought monitor here, or read more at AP, at NJ.com, or at Politico.