Adams Issues Citywide Drought Watch, Urges New Yorkers to Start Conserving Water

Adams Issues Citywide Drought Watch, Urges New Yorkers to Start Conserving Water

By Forum Staff

Mayor Eric Adams on Saturday issued a citywide drought watch amid a historic lack of precipitation, ordering City agencies to update water conservation plans and prepare to implement them, and urging the public to help conserve every possible drop.

The announcement comes as the Big Apple concludes a historically dry October, which saw the second-longest dry streak in City records dating back to 1869. Conserving water will slow the depletion rate of the stored water in city reservoirs and can potentially postpone or eliminate the threat of a serious shortage, Adams noted.

A drought watch is the first of three levels of water conservation declarations by the city. As conditions continue to evolve, the city may declare a drought warning or, subsequently, a drought emergency, which involve escalating requirements to reduce water usage at city agencies and on New Yorkers.

Keeping reservoir levels high is even more important given the City’s current repair work on the $2 billion Delaware Aqueduct Repair Project, the Department of Environmental Protection’s largest-ever infrastructure repair project that will prevent a decades-old, 35-million-gallon-per-day leak under the Hudson River. During the ongoing final phase of construction — which includes connecting a 2.5-mile parallel tunnel to bypass the leak — DEP is drawing on increased amounts of drinking water coming from the Croton Watershed, the city’s oldest upstate water supply. However, the watershed has seen below-average rainfall over the last month — receiving only .81 inches of rain this October, compared to historical averages of 3.81 inches of rain for the month. DEP will continue to analyze current and forecasted reservoir levels for their impacts to the project.

Adams has urged all New Yorkers to do their part to conserve water. Some tips include:

  • Report open fire hydrants and street leaks to 311. An open hydrant can release more than 1,000 gallons per minute, which wastes 1.4 million gallons of drinking water in a 24-hour cycle.
  • Don’t flush the toilet unnecessarily. According to the EPA, toilets are by far the main source of water use in a home, accounting for nearly 30 percent of an average home’s indoor water consumption. Each flush can use 1.6 gallons, with older models using as much as 6 gallons.
  • Take shorter showers, saving five to seven gallons a minute. When taking a bath, fill the tub only halfway and save 10 to 15 gallons.
  • Don’t run the tap while shaving, washing hands, or brushing teeth. Faucets use two to three gallons per minute.
  • Fix leaks. A leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
  • Run the dishwasher and washing machine only when full. Use short cycles if available. Turn off the water while washing dishes.
  • Install water-saving fixtures, including low-flow toilets and showerheads, as well as faucet aerators.
  • Sweep driveways and sidewalks clean rather than washing them down with a hose.

“October was the driest October on record, which has resulted in minimal inflow to replenish the reservoirs,” said DEP Commissioner Rohit Aggarwala. “Because of this, a drought watch has been declared, and we must now take immediate action. All of us who rely on the city’s water supply, including 8.3 million consumers in the city and another 1.5 million upstate, must make concerted efforts to conserve water.”

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