Current Drought Status

Current Condition: Normal 🟨

Drought Stages

  • 🟨 Normal Conditions (current) - Use water responsibly and follow water conservation best practices.
  • 🟦 Stage I - Drought Watch: Voluntary water conservation measures are in effect. Residents are encouraged to reduce water use whenever possible.
  • 🟧 Stage II - Drought Warning: Mandatory restrictions on non-essential water use are in effect.
  • 🟥 Stage III - Drought Emergency: Mandatory water restrictions and water rationing are in effect to protect essential water supplies.

As a reminder, it is always important to make sure we are using healthy water habits. Listed below are some tips that everyone can use to conserve water:

  • Turn the faucet off while brushing teeth. Use a glass of water for rinsing teeth.
  • When shaving, use a sink filled with rinse water. Do not let the faucet flow.
  • Take short showers instead of baths and consider bathing small children together.
  • When washing dishes by hand, do not leave the faucet flowing for rinsing. Instead, use a dish rack and spray device to rinse them. If there are two sinks, fill one with soapy water and one with rinse water.
  • Wash the car with water from a bucket. If a hose is used, control the flow with an automatic shut off nozzle.
  • Water the lawn only when needed. If grass does not spring back after walking on it, it needs water.
  • Water the lawn or garden during the coolest part of the day. Do not water on windy days.
  • Set sprinklers to water the lawn or garden only. Do not water the street or sidewalk.
  • Repair all small leaks found on your homes plumbing system.
  • Change out the internal parts of your toilet every 2-3 years, especially the flapper. Leaking toilets are the #1 cause for high water bills.

Other useful links for tips on saving water:

• US EPA’s water conservation page

• PA DEP

• Non-essential usage

Top 10 Ways to Conserve Water in Your Home

  1. Fix leaks. A dripping tap can waste a lot of water over time. Running toilets are the #1 cause of high water bills. These repairs are typically inexpensive and can save you a lot of money and water over a brief period of time.
  2. Turn off the water when brushing your teeth.
  3. Take shorter showers. Cutting your shower time by half can save a significant amount of water.
  4. Use your dishwasher properly. Scrape any crumbs into the trash can and avoid pre-rinsing your dishes before putting them into the dishwasher. Also, make sure to fully load the dishwasher before running a cycle.
  5. Install energy-efficient and water-saving devices. Many modern low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators are designed to save water while still providing high pressure.
  6. Recycle water. Collect water that you run from the faucet to use for other purposes, like flushing toilets and watering plants.
  7. Wash full loads of laundry. Make sure your washing machine is full before starting a load.
  8. Complete a home water audit. Many free home water audits can be found online.
  9. Monitor your water bill and/or water meter. If you think you may have an unknown leak in your house, call the water department to schedule a free leak investigation.
  10. Communicate and teach others in the household, especially children. Teaching kids good water conservation habits when they are young is particularly important.