New York City Watches for Drought, Asks New Yorkers to Save Water – NBC New York

New Yorkers are being asked to “help conserve every drop possible” as city officials issued a drought watch amid a historic drought across the region.

Mayor Eric Adams and the city’s Department of Environmental Conservation issued a drought warning Saturday as part of efforts to conserve New York’s water resources.

October was one of the driest months in the city’s history. Since 1869, when we began collecting records in Central Park, we have never gone an entire month without noticeable rain. On Tuesday, the 29th day of the month, we finally managed to accumulate the minimum measurable amount of rain: 0.01 inches.

This negligible amount of precipitation made October 20024 the driest calendar month on record, beating June 1949 when 0.02 inches fell.

“New Yorkers come together in times of crisis, and right now, in the driest period in recent memory, we need New Yorkers to do just that and save as much water as possible,” said Mayor Adams.

“By starting to conserve water now, we are doing everything we can to ensure we can water our parks and fill our swimming pools in the summer and prevent more severe drought.”

The drought watch is the first of three statements a city can make regarding water conservation. The first is a watch, followed by a drought warning and then a drought emergency.

The mayor’s order also calls on all city agencies to update their water conservation plans and be prepared to implement them should further conservation efforts occur in upstate waterways.

“Implementing voluntary water conservation measures now can help prevent the need for stricter restrictions in the future. The Administration is committed to taking immediate action across all City agencies to conserve water and stands ready to take further action if necessary,” said Chief of Staff and Extreme Weather Coordinator Camille Joseph Warlack.

The city’s water supply capacity is about 65.9%, down from the normal 76.6%, according to the DEP.

Adams shared the following tip for saving water:

• Report open fire hydrants and street leaks to 311. An open hydrant can release more than 1,000 gallons per minute, resulting in the loss of 1.4 million gallons of drinking water in a 24-hour cycle.
• Don’t flush the toilet unless necessary. Toilets are by far the leading source of water use in the home, accounting for nearly 30 percent of average indoor water use, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. You can use 1.6 gallons per flush, with older models up to 6 gallons.
• Take shorter showers, saving five to seven gallons of water per minute. When taking a bath, fill the tub only halfway and save 10 to 15 gallons.
• Do not run the tap while shaving, washing your hands or brushing your teeth. Faucets use two to three gallons of water per minute.
• Fix leaks. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a leaky faucet that drips one drop per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons of water per year.
• Only turn on the dishwasher and washing machine when they are full. If possible, use short cycles. Turn off the water while washing dishes.
• Install water-saving fixtures, including low-flow toilets and showerheads, and faucet aerators.
• Sweep driveways and sidewalks rather than hose them down.
• For even more ideas, visit the DEP’s Water Saving Tips website.