UPDATED: Drought warning issued for 15 counties
On November 18, 2024, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Eric Adams declared a statewide drought watch and elevated 15 counties to drought warning status due to a continued shortage of rainfall and declining levels of streamflow and ground water.
Counties under the drought warning are: Bronx, Delaware, Dutchess, Greene, Kings, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Schoharie, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester.
New York State officials are encouraging residents in affected counties, particularly those dependent on private groundwater wells, to conserve water whenever possible during the coming weeks.
To protect water resources, homeowners in regions under drought watch are encouraged to voluntarily reduce outdoor water use and follow these tips:
Reuse water collected in rain barrels, dehumidifiers or air conditioners to water plants.
Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways and sidewalks.
Fix leaking pipes, fixtures, toilets, hoses and faucets.
Wash only full loads of dishes and laundry.
Take shorter showers or fill the bathtub partly.
Install water saving plumbing fixtures.
Don’t run the tap to make water hot or cold.
Wash cars less frequently.
The Hudson Valley and Long Island fire danger is at “very high” risk; the Catskill, Upper Hudson Valley/Champlain, St. Lawrence, and Leatherstocking areas are “high;” Adirondack, High Peaks, Lake Ontario, and Southern Tier are currently at “moderate.” Updated information about fire risk levels is available at DEC’s Fire Danger Map webpage.
Advertisement:
Instead of flooding this page with ads, leave us a tip or shop our local makers if you liked this information.
Add an event to the HVNY calendar at hvny.info/share-your-event