| Photo by Andreas Lischka/Pixabay via Wikimedia Commons
NEW YORK—A citywide drought watch to conserve as much water as possible is in effect. The announcement, issued by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), ordered city agencies to update water conservation plans, prepare to implement them, and urged the public to help conserve every drop possible.
According to DEP, this past October is the second-largest dry streak in city records dating to 1869. “Because of this, a drought watch has been declared, and we must now take immediate action,” said DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala. “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.”
DEP said 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.
“New Yorkers come together in times of crisis, and right now, amidst the dryest spell in recent memory, we need New Yorkers to do just that and conserve as much water as possible,” said Mayor Eric Adams. “By starting to save water now, we’re doing everything we can to make sure that we can water our parks and fill our pools come summer and to stave off a more serious drought emergency,
Three levels of water conservation declarations
A drought watch is the first of three levels of water conservation declarations by the city. As conditions evolve, the city may declare a drought warning or emergency, which involves escalating requirements to reduce water usage at city agencies and New Yorkers.
With the city’s ongoing repair on the $2 billion Delaware Aquaduct Repair Project, the administration said keeping water reservoir levels high is essential. This project is DEP’s largest infrastructure repair project that will prevent a decades-old, 35 million-gallon-per-day leak under the Hudson River.
While connecting a 2.5-mile parallel tunnel to bypass the leak during the final construction phase, DEP said it is drawing on increased drinking water 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. DEP said it will continue to analyze current and forecasted reservoir levels for their impacts on the project.
Camille Joseph Varlack, Chief of Staff and Extreme Weather Coordinator encouraged New Yorkers to take this drought watch seriously.
“Implementing voluntary water conservation measures now can help prevent the need for more stringent restrictions in the future. The administration is ready to implement immediate measures across city agencies to conserve water and stands prepared to take further actions if required,” Varlack said.
Average daily water demand
According to the DEP, New York City’s average daily water demand has decreased by approximately 35 percent over the past several decades. During its peak in 1979, DEP said the city’s average water usage was 1.5 billion gallons of water a day due to improved management strategies. It includes systemwide leak detection and repairs, replacing old meters with automated meter readers, and providing an online platform for customers to track and monitor water use and quickly detect leaks in their buildings. The city uses just 1.1 billion gallons daily and under 1 billion in winter.
DEP manages the nation’s most extensive municipal water supply system, providing high-quality drinking water to nearly 10 million residents daily, including 8.3 million in New York City. The water is delivered from a watershed that extends more than 125 miles from the city, comprising 19 reservoirs and three controlled lakes. Approximately 7,000 miles of water mains, tunnels, and aqueducts bring water to homes and businesses throughout the five boroughs.
Water conservation tips
Today, Adams urged all New Yorkers to do their part to conserve water. Some simple 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 the primary 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. Fill the tub only halfway when bathing, saving 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. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a leaky faucet that drips at one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons yearly.
- 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, showerheads, and faucet aerators.
- Sweep driveways and sidewalks clean rather than washing them down with a hose.
For even more ideas, visit DEP’s Water Savings Tips website.
–-With Ricky Rillera/PDM
