Earlier this summer, the entire Philadelphia region was gasping for moisture in the fight against drought. Thanks to recent precipitation received from summer storms, however, conditions in the area are starting to improve.
Following its Wednesday, July 29, meeting, the Commonwealth Drought Task Force returned Montgomery and Philadelphia counties to normal status.
Drought emergency declarations, which have mandatory water conservation requirements, follow a similar process but require final approval by the governor.
“Drought declarations are not based on a single factor,” the division’s drought information webpage notes. “DEP considers four key indicators: stream flow, groundwater levels, precipitation, and soil moisture. Each has an established normal range. Declarations are made after assessing how far conditions have deviated from normal over the past three to 12 months.”
Since public water restrictions vary by locality, residents should check with their public water supplier for current voluntary or mandatory restrictions.
The state also recommends the following actions to reduce water usage:
Skip the car wash.Run washers less often.Repair household leaks in pipes and plumbing fixtures.Set up a rain barrel to repurpose rain for watering gardens.