First drought warning issued in New York City in over 20 years
NEW YORK (PIX11) – A drought warning was issued in New York City on Monday, the first in more than two decades, Mayor Eric Adams announced.
City leaders said residents will start seeing signs of water conservation soon, from city busses and vehicles being washed less often to limited water use for park fountains.
"Over the last 10 weeks, we have had 8.23 inches less rain than in the average year over just 10 weeks. So, this drought has come on fast, it has come on furious, and that’s why the last six weeks have been the driest on record," said Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Rohit Aggarwala.
Adams also announced that a phase of the $2 billion Delaware Aqueduct is being paused, with work to patch a leak on the water supply system to likely begin next year. A shut-off portion of the aqueduct will be turned back on amid higher-than-normal water consumption and falling reserves.
Residents can also do their part by conserving water. That includes taking shorter showers, which could save 5 to 7 gallons a minute, turning off the faucet while shaving, washing your hands or brushing your teeth, watering plants before 9 a.m. or after 7 p.m., sweeping your sidewalk instead of using water and not opening fire hydrants.
The FDNY has launched a task force following at least 300 brush fires around New York City this month. The dry conditions and lack of rain could make these fires more difficult to tackle.
A statewide burn ban is still in effect.
Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.