The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced that all upstate drought regions have returned to “Normal” status. In cooperation with the State's Drought Management Task Force, DEC updated the drought status from “Drought Watch” to “Normal” in State Drought Regions II through VIII after assessing recent precipitation and elevated levels of ground and surface water. The Long Island counties of Nassau and Suffolk (State Drought Region I) remain in a Drought Watch.
“Precipitation and recent snowmelt have improved stream flows and groundwater levels, resulting in upstate drought regions returning to normal status,” said Commissioner Amanda Lefton. “DEC experts will continue to monitor conditions in coordination with the State Drought Management Task Force and update the public of any changes. DEC encourages communities and individuals to always be mindful of their water use and practice water conservation measures all year long.”
While regional hydrological conditions have notably improved, localized dry conditions may persist and despite encouraging hydrological conditions, New Yorkers are urged to continue reducing unnecessary water use and waste, fixing leaks, and choosing efficient water fixtures.
New York State drought Region IIA, which includes New York City and Westchester County, remains in normal status due to the satisfactory storage levels and refill probability of the New York City reservoirs. According to the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the city's reservoirs are at more than 95% capacity. DEC continues to work closely with DEP to monitor reservoir conditions and encourage responsible water use, especially outdoors, regardless of the hydrological conditions or season.
Following the declaration, DEC briefed the State Drought Management Task Force and federal partner agencies. A map of New York State drought conditions is available on the DEC website.
New York State encourages ongoing water conservation to ensure adequate supply for all emergency use. To protect water resources, homeowners are encouraged to voluntarily reduce water use and follow these tips:
- Reuse water collected in rain barrels, dehumidifiers or air conditioners to water plants.
- Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways and sidewalks.
- Fix leaking pipes, fixtures, toilets, hoses and faucets.
- Wash only full loads of dishes and laundry.
- Take shorter showers or fill the bathtub partly.
- Install water saving plumbing fixtures.
- Don’t run the tap to make water hot or cold.
- Wash cars less frequently.
Visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense for more tips on saving water indoors and outdoors. DEC has been a WaterSense partner since 2014.
Private Water Wells
For water wells that may be affected by drought, see the information and links below. Contact a registered water well contractor to discuss appropriate options for your individual situation.
- Report a dry water well using the Dry Water Well Reporting Form.
- Check that the well is dry due to drought and no other issues. Sometimes the solution is quite simple, like a broken valve or electrical issue. The only way to definitively tell if a well is dry is to measure the water level in the well.
- Conserve water year-round to help prevent the effects of drought on water wells.
- Consider adding a water storage tank to help get through dry periods.
- Clean or redevelop existing wells.
- Deepen existing wells or drill a new well. If drilling a new well, properly decommission the old well to protect groundwater quality.
State Drought Index
Drought stages are calculated using the State Drought Index, which evaluates whether several drought indicators have reached critical thresholds. DEC experts track and evaluate drought conditions based on stream flows, lake and reservoir storage levels, and groundwater levels. These factors, and the duration of the dry period, season, and other information such as past and forecasted precipitation, weather patterns, and local conditions, are used by DEC to evaluate drought conditions across the state. The State Drought Index is attuned to the specific attributes of New York and may differ moderately from some national technical drought assessments.
DEC and the U.S. Geological Survey are partners in evaluating hydrologic conditions across New York State. In addition, DEC supports efforts by local governments and stakeholders to undertake water conservation measures based on specific local circumstances.
For more water-saving tips, visit DEC's webpage. For more information about drought in New York, visit the Water Use and Conservation webpage.
