6/15/2023 - DEP Declares Statewide Drought Watch, Recommends Voluntary
Water Conservation. The last DEP Drought meeting was 7/27/2023.
https://www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/NewsRoomPublic/articleviewer.aspx?
id=22328&typeid=1
Residents and businesses are encouraged to reduce their nonessential water
use by 5 to 10 percent. For example, at home there are many simple ways to
use
less water.
- Run the dishwasher and washing machine less often, and only with full
loads.
- Dont let the faucet run while brushing your teeth or shaving. Take
shorter showers. For example, consider not washing your hair daily.
- Water your lawn only if necessary. Avoid watering on windy and hot days.
Watering grass lightly and efficiently will encourage healthier, deeper
grass roots. Overwatering is wasteful, encourages fungal growth and
disease, and results in shallow, compacted root systems that are more
susceptible to drought.
- When mowing your lawn, set the blades 2-3 inches high. Longer grass
shades the soil, improving moisture retention.
- Water your garden less often. If necessary, water only in the cooler
evening or morning hours, and direct the water to the ground at the base of
the plant. Focus on new plantings, which have shallow root systems. Older
plants may endure dry conditions longer.
- Skip the car washing. If you have to wash your car, its better
environmentally to go to a drive-through car wash that recycles the water.
- Sweep your sidewalk, deck, or driveway, instead of hosing it off.
- Check for and repair household leaks. For example, a leaking toilet can
waste up to 200 gallons of water daily.
- Set up a rain barrel to be ready to repurpose rain when it does fall. For
helpful information, see this Penn State Extension guide. Or just set out a
bucket to capture water in the event of rain, and reuse it to water plants
or the bird bath.
For more information visit DEP website:
https://www.dep.pa.gov/Business/Water/PlanningConservation/Drought/pages/de
If you would like to report a problem with your water, please contact our office at 610-258-7181.