Pennsylvania American Water asks customers in Butler County to reduce water usage amid drought watch – Butler Eagle

Pennsylvania American Water is encouraging customers in Butler and 20 other counties across the state to voluntarily reduce their water consumption in response to a drought watch declaration announced recently by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

While the company said it always encourages wise water use, Pennsylvania American Water is asking residents and businesses to voluntarily reduce their nonessential water use by 10% to 15%, a reduction of about 11 to 16 gallons per day, in accordance with DEP’s guidance.

The water company asked customers in Butler County and 11 other counties to reduce consumption in September due to low rainfall and water levels in reservoirs. The DEP issued a drought watch in October for 24 counties.

On Jan. 12, DEP expanded the drought watch to 40 counties, including 21 in Pennsylvania American’s service areas.

A drought watch is the first and least severe level of three drought classifications.

The 40 counties under a drought watch are Adams, Beaver, Bedford, Berks, Bradford, Butler, Cambria, Carbon, Chester, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Cumberland, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Juniata, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lawrence, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mercer, Mifflin, Monroe, Northampton, Northumberland, Perry, Pike, Schuylkill, Snyder, Somerset, Tioga, Union, Venango and Washington.

The 21 counties in which the water company is seeking voluntary use reductions are Adams, Beaver, Berks, Butler, Chester, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Cumberland, Indiana, Jefferson, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lawrence, Lebanon, Monroe, Northampton, Pike, Schuylkill, Union and Washington.

“We’re asking our customers in affected areas to observe the DEP’s request and be mindful of their nonessential water use during this drought watch,” said Brandy Braun, director of water quality and environmental compliance for Pennsylvania American Water. “Our sources of supply are currently adequate to meet the needs of our customers, but we want to prepare for the potential of more severe conditions that could lead to stricter conservation measures in the future.”

Pennsylvania American Water offers multiple water conservation resources in the “wise water use” section of its website. It is a member of the Alliance for Water Efficiency, which developed an online water use calculator that allows visitors to input water use information specific to their household and offers tips on where they can save water and energy based on that data.