The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has lifted the drought watch for Lebanon County, along with seven other counties, indicating a return to normal water supply conditions. The affected counties include Bucks, Dauphin, Huntingdon, Lancaster, Lebanon, Montgomery, Northampton, and Perry.
Conversely, Adams, Cameron, Cumberland, Fulton, and Westmoreland Counties remain under drought watch. York County’s situation has been downgraded from a drought warning to a watch, while Clinton and Franklin Counties continue to face drought warnings.
Residents in counties under drought warning are urged to reduce their water usage by 10 to 15 percent. This translates to approximately six to nine gallons less per day. The DEP highlights that specific local conditions may prompt water suppliers or municipalities to enforce stricter conservation measures. A list of public water suppliers seeking water conservation in their communities is available for reference.
To aid in water conservation, residents can adopt several practices at home. These include running dishwashers and washing machines only with full loads, reducing shower times, repairing household leaks, installing low-flow plumbing fixtures, and opting for high-efficiency appliances. Further tips are available on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s website.
The DEP bases its drought condition assessments on data from public water suppliers and four key indicators: precipitation, surface water flow, groundwater levels, and soil moisture. This process is conducted in close collaboration with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), which maintains a network of gauges in streams and wells across Pennsylvania.
For daily updates on drought declarations and more information, residents can visit the DEP drought web page.
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