White Plains CitizeNetReporter - Water Supply Low. County Urges Voluntary Conservation.

From Westchester County's Department of Communications and WPCNR:Faced with lower reservoir levels, Westchester County is asking its residents to help with conservation efforts and use water sparingly. The request comes on the heels of a drought watch issued earlier this week by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Voluntary conservation is urged. Tips on saving water appear in this article.

The DEC’s declaration – which applied to 13 southeastern counties - doesn’t include mandatory restrictions but public water suppliers are urged to promote voluntary conservation.

Latest national map radars examined by WPCNR indicate that there will be no precipitation for the next 10 days. Temperatures are expected to be warm in the 50s and 60s, which may aggravate the shortage.

“This doesn’t indicate any kind of emergency – just that reservoir levels are lower than we would like,” said John D’Aquino, first deputy commissioner of the Department of Environmental Facilities. “However, it does mean that we should all practice conservation to keep the situation from getting any worse.”

State and county officials attribute the situation to below average rainfall, stream flow and groundwater levels. The reservoirs feeding New York City’s water supply are at 53 percent of capacity – significantly below the normal level of 69 percent.

Among the water-saving tips recommended by both the state and county:

Take shorter showers or fill the tub only halfway.

Don’t run the tap while shaving or brushing your teeth.

Fix leaking pipes, hoses and faucets. Leaky faucets can waste up to 1,000 gallons each week.

Run the dishwasher and washing machine only when full. Or use short cycles if available.

Don’t use the toilet as a wastebasket. Each unnecessary flush can waste 1.6 to 5 gallons.

Install water-saving fixtures including toilets, showerheads and faucet aerators.

Sweep driveways and sidewalks clean rather than washing them down with a hose.

Don’t let the tap run for cold water. Keep a container in the refrigerator. For more tips, contact the county’s Water Conservation Hotline at 813-5436.


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