New York officials are warning that much of the state, including some local counties, are under a drought warning, and the rest of the state may be headed that way.
Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Monday declared a statewide drought watch and elevated 15 counties to drought warning status due to a continued shortage of rainfall and declining levels of streamflow and ground water. Delaware and Schoharie counties are under that drought warning. The others are Bronx, Dutchess, Greene, Kings, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester. State officials are encouraging residents in affected counties, particularly those dependent on private groundwater wells, to conserve water whenever possible during the coming weeks.
“Recent unseasonably warm weather and lack of precipitation have led to dry conditions for many counties in New York, resulting in Hudson Valley and New York City area counties being elevated to drought warning status and a statewide drought watch,” Hochul said in a news release. “Across the state, local water restrictions and educating New Yorkers about how to help conserve water resources are crucial steps to help prevent a more severe shortage until conditions improve.”
Adams said the situation will impact a project with local connections. “As our city and watershed continues to experience significant precipitation shortages, today, I’m upgrading our drought watch to a drought warning, pausing our Delaware Aqueduct repair project, and ordering our agencies to immediately implement water saving measures,” he said. “Our city vehicles may look a bit dirtier, and our subways may look a bit dustier, but it’s what we have to do to delay or stave off a more serious drought emergency.”
There are four levels of state drought advisories: watch, warning, emergency and disaster, the release stated. There are no mandatory restrictions under a state drought watch. Under a drought warning, voluntary water conservation is intensified and public water supplies and industries are advised to update and implement local drought contingency plans. Local agencies make plans in case of emergency declaration. The designation will not impact any wildfire efforts. State officials encourage ongoing water conservation to ensure adequate supply for all emergency uses.
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.
For owners of private water wells:
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
State Drought Index
Drought watches and warnings are triggered by the State Drought Index, which reflects precipitation levels, reservoir and lake levels, and stream flow and groundwater levels in the nine drought regions of the state, the release stated. Each of those indicators is assigned a weighted value based on its significance to various uses in a region.
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.
Wildfire risk
The dry weather also continues to create wildfire risk across New York state and, on Nov. 12, Hochul announced a statewide burn ban to help prevent fire. The Hudson Valley and Long Island fire danger is at “very high” risk; the Catskill, Upper Hudson Valley/Champlain, St. Lawrence, and Leatherstocking areas are “high;” Adirondack, High Peaks, Lake Ontario, and Southern Tier are currently at “moderate.”
Officials warned that any outdoor fire can spread quickly, especially if the wind picks up. It is illegal to burn leaves anywhere in New York. Brush of a certain size may be burned when bans are not in effect.