Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Drought Task Force this week doubled the number of counties under a drought warning status.
Berks, Lancaster, Lebanon and Lehigh counties worsened from drought watch to drought warning as rain recovery in southeastern Pennsylvania remains limited, and some areas continue to deteriorate.
Several counties that showed improvement in May have since declined, prompting the expansion of the drought warning to four counties bordering the southeastern region.
The escalation brings the total number of counties under drought warnings to eight. Chester, Cumberland, Franklin and Fulton counties remain under warning status from previous declarations.
Eleven counties remain under drought watch: Adams, Bedford, Blair, Bucks, Dauphin, Delaware, Montgomery, Northampton, Perry, Philadelphia and York.
The remaining 48 Pennsylvania counties maintain normal status.
Pennsylvania does not base drought declarations on a single factor. DEP considers four key indicators: stream flow, groundwater levels, precipitation and soil moisture. Declarations are made after assessing how far conditions have deviated from normal over the past three to 12 months.
Residents are encouraged to voluntarily conserve nonessential water use, according to the task force.
Local water suppliers may ask residents to continue conservation measures based on varying localized conditions, even in areas not under official drought declarations.
Visit the task force’s website at pa.gov for a complete list of public water suppliers requiring mandatory conservation or requesting voluntary efforts.
Pennsylvania American Water on Wednesday called on customers to conserve water. It’s the largest regulated water utility in the state with some 1,200 employees serving around 2.5 million people.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, approximately 30% of Pennsylvania is experiencing abnormally dry conditions.
The drought coverage represents the highest percentage of national drought in nearly four years, according to Pennsylvania American Water. Forecasts calling for above-normal temperatures and below-average rainfall this summer are expected to increase pressure on water resources and seasonal water demand.
The company’s recommendations include watering lawns and gardens in the early morning or evening to minimize evaporation. As much as 30% of water can be lost by watering during midday. Other conservation measures include collecting rainwater in rain barrels, checking sprinkler heads to ensure water isn’t being wasted on pavement, and using a broom instead of a hose to clean patios and driveways.
Pennsylvania American Water also recommends mulching garden beds with a 2- to 3-inch layer to retain moisture and setting mower blades higher, as grass cut to 2.5 to 3.5 inches is more drought-resistant. The company notes that 10% of homes have leaks that can waste 90 gallons or more per day.
more lehigh valley weather
Read the original article on lehighvalleylive.com. Add lehighvalleylive.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.