NYC Drought Level Elevated to Warning Status Due to Extended Lack of Precipitation
New York City’s longest rainless streak in recorded history has prompted Mayor Adams and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to elevate the citywide drought watch to a drought warning — the second of three levels of Water Conservation Declaration possible by the city. According to the press release by the Mayor’s Office, the lack of rain and an exceptionally warm fall has reduced the city’s reservoir system to only 63% capacity; and will require almost eight inches of rain to reach normal levels. As a result, decisions were made to pause, until next year, the final phase of the DEP’s $2 billion Delaware Aqueduct Repair Project, an 86-mile pipeline that delivers half of the city’s water supply from the Catskill Mountains. The lack of rain upstate has diminished water reserves across all reservoirs to levels below where they need to be to complete the project in the spring, but the pause will enable the city to begin the process of reopening the aqueduct to resume the flow of water from four additional reservoirs. Further city and statewide water-saving measures are being implemented, while urging New Yorkers to also do their part to not only conserve water but to be particularly cautious of sparking brush fires – several of which have recently clouded the city with smoke. Over the years, successful conservation efforts by New York City have reduced its average daily water demand by approximately 35%, lowering from the 1979 peak of 1.5 billion gallons to an average of 1.1 gallons a day, and under 1 billion gallons during the winter months. Nearly 10 million New York residents, including 8.3 million in New York City, are delivered water from a watershed that extends more than 125 miles from the city. Managed by the DEP, it is the nation’s largest municipal water supply system which is comprised of 19 reservoirs and three controlled lakes, and approximately 7,000 miles of water mains, tunnels, and aqueducts that bring water to homes and businesses throughout the five boroughs.