Lehigh County Authority customers have been asked to reduce water use by 10% to 15% after state officials declared a drought warning for Lehigh County.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur system remains stable, but we need to act now to preserve our water supply as the drought continues,\u201d LCA CEO Liesel Gross said in a news release. \u201cThis winter\u2019s snowfall alone won\u2019t resolve the drought conditions brought on by two years of below-average rainfall. Without consistent precipitation that replenishes streams and aquifers, we remain in a deficit. Voluntary conservation now is the responsible way to protect water resources for the entire community.\u201d<\/p>\n
The authority draws about 27 million gallons of water each day from sources that include the Little Lehigh Creek and the Lehigh River, as well as natural springs and groundwater wells.<\/p>\n
If customers reduced their water use 15%, that would save nearly 4 million gallons of water each day, the LCA news release stated.<\/p>\n
\u201cLCA\u2019s drought monitoring data spans several decades. While current conditions are serious, they are not yet as severe as 2002, when Lehigh County last faced a formal Drought Emergency declaration,\u201d the news release states. \u201cHowever, sustained conservation is essential to prevent further decline.\u201d<\/p>\n
A drought warning means voluntary, not mandatory, water use restrictions. If the dry conditions that have reduced flows in local watersheds and slowed the recharge of aquifers do not abate, additional conservation measures could be implemented, the news release states.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s some LCA tips for conserving water:<\/p>\n
Find and fix leaks, including dripping faucets, running toilets and sprinklers
\nRun dishwashers and washing machines only with full loads
\nTake short showers and don\u2019t fill bathtubs
\nTurn off the tap when brushing teeth
\nUse commercial carwashes rather than washing at home<\/p>\n
The state Department of Environmental Protection on Wednesday issued drought warnings for Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Carbon, Schuylkill and 11 other counties, reflecting \u201cworsening conditions\u201d across the commonwealth.<\/p>\n
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