All of Pennsylvania remains under a drought watch according to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
The status was confirmed after a meeting of the Commonwealth Drought Task Force on Friday. According to a news release from the DEP, there are several factors that determine drought declarations in Pennsylvania, based on data from public water suppliers. The indicators that are brought into play are precipitation, surface water flow, groundwater levels and soil moisture. While the recent rains have been a welcome, there are still persistent precipitation deficits across the state. To improve soil moisture, the DEP says a persistent rainfall is needed.
While not required at this point, the DEP is asking residents and non-farm businesses to voluntarily reduce non-essential water use. Some ways to do so include:
- Running a dishwasher or laundry machine only with full loads
- Taking shorter showers and not letting the faucet run when shaving or brushing your teeth
- Watering the lawn and garden only when necessary, and avoid watering on windy or hot days
- Adjusting the blades of the lawnmower to allow for longer grass, as it will shield the soil and improve moisture protection
- Skip washing the car or take it to a car wash that recycles its water
For more information on the drought watch, you can log on to the DEP Drought website.
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