NYC Declares Drought Watch: Urges Residents to Shorten Showers, Flush Less, and Follow New Water-Saving Guidelines

By BoroPark24 Staff

In response to an unprecedented dry season, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala have issued a citywide drought watch, urging all New Yorkers to conserve water.

This decision follows a historically dry October, marking the city’s second-longest dry streak since 1869. With the announcement, city agencies are updating water conservation plans, ready to implement measures if conditions worsen. Residents are asked to conserve water in any way possible to help maintain reservoir levels and prevent a serious shortage.

To help New Yorkers conserve water, the DEP has released a series of water-saving tips:

• Report leaks and open hydrants to 311: A single open hydrant can waste up to 1.4 million gallons of water daily.
• Reduce toilet flushing and fix leaks: Toilets account for nearly 30% of home water use, and a single dripping faucet can waste over 3,000 gallons per year.
• Shorten showers and run appliances only when full: This can save dozens of gallons daily.
• Turn off taps when shaving, brushing, or washing dishes.

Mayor Adams emphasized the need for immediate water-saving actions, noting, "New Yorkers come together in times of crisis, and right now, amidst the driest spell in recent memory, we need New Yorkers to do just that and conserve as much water as possible." The mayor has instructed city agencies to finalize their water conservation strategies, ensuring parks, pools, and essential services can continue in the future without strain.

DEP Commissioner Aggarwala noted that October’s near-record-low rainfall significantly reduced reservoir inflows, making water conservation crucial for the 8.3 million city residents and another 1.5 million upstate residents who depend on the city’s water supply. The DEP is monitoring reservoir levels closely and may impose more restrictive measures, should conditions not improve.

DEP’s long-term conservation strategies have already reduced New York City’s water usage from a peak of 1.5 billion gallons per day in 1979 to an average of 1.1 billion gallons today. The DEP continues its work on the $2 billion Delaware Aqueduct Repair Project, which will resolve a 35-million-gallon-per-day leak under the Hudson River by connecting a new 2.5-mile tunnel.