With Little Rain, New York City Issues Drought Warning

NYC recently experienced the second-longest dry streak in city records dating back to 1869. New York Mayor Eric Adams issued a citywide drought watch and asked New Yorkers to conserve as much water as possible to avoid a more serious drought emergency.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala issued a citywide drought watch amid a historic lack of precipitation, ordering city agencies to update water conservation plans and prepare to implement them, and urging the public to help conserve every drop possible.

The announcement comes as New York City concludes a historically dry October, which saw the second-longest dry streak in city records dating back to 1869. Conserving water will slow the depletion rate of the stored water in city reservoirs and can potentially postpone or eliminate the threat of a serious shortage.  

“New Yorkers come together in times of crisis, and right now, amidst the dryest spell in recent memory, we need New Yorkers to do just that and conserve as much water as possible,” said Mayor Adams. “We’re going to do our part as a city as well, which is why I’m ordering our city agencies to update their water conservation plans and prepare to implement them imminently. By starting to save water now, we’re doing everything we can to make sure that we can water our parks and fill our pools come summer, and to stave off a more serious drought emergency.” 

“We encourage all New Yorkers to take this drought watch seriously and conserve water where you can. While water conservation is always essential, it is particularly crucial during extended dry periods, such as those experienced in New York state throughout this fall,” said Chief of Staff and Extreme Weather Coordinator Camille Joseph Varlack. “Implementing voluntary water conservation measures now can help prevent the need for more stringent restrictions in the future. The administration is ready to implement immediate measures across city agencies to conserve water and stands prepared to take further actions if required.” 

“Time and again, New Yorkers’ resiliency shines through the hardest of days. Now, we ask all New Yorkers to step up and do their part to conserve water during this historically dry season, helping us avoid some of the worse impacts of drought,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “When every New Yorker makes even small changes, like turning off the tap when washing hands, brushing teeth, and doing dishes, we save millions of gallons by the minute.”  

“October was the driest October on record, which has resulted in minimal inflow to replenish the reservoirs,” said DEP Commissioner Aggarwala. “Because of this, a drought watch has been declared, and we must now take immediate action. All of us who rely on the city’s water supply, including 8.3 million consumers in the city and another 1.5 million upstate, must make concerted efforts to conserve water.” 

“As we work closely with DEP to enhance city agencies’ water shortage response plans and ensure a coordinated effort across all levels of government, I want New Yorkers to know we all have a role to play in conserving our city’s water, one of our most precious resources,” said New York City Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol. “By taking small but meaningful steps, such as running the washer and dishwasher only when full, to taking shorter showers, and educating your fellow New Yorkers about the drought watch, we can make a huge impact.” 

A drought watch is the first of three levels of water conservation declarations by the city. As conditions continue to evolve, the city may declare a drought warning or, subsequently, a drought emergency, which involve escalating requirements to reduce water usage at city agencies and on New Yorkers. 

Keeping reservoir levels high is even more important given the city’s current repair work on the $2 billion Delaware Aqueduct Repair Project, DEP’s largest-ever infrastructure repair project that will prevent a decades-old, 35-million-gallon-per-day leak under the Hudson River. During the ongoing final phase of construction — which includes connecting a 2.5-mile parallel tunnel to bypass the leak — DEP is drawing on increased amounts of drinking water coming from the Croton Watershed, the city’s oldest upstate water supply. However, the watershed has seen below-average rainfall over the last month — receiving only .81 inches of rain this October, compared to historical averages of 3.81 inches of rain for the month. DEP will continue to analyze current and forecasted reservoir levels for their impacts to the project.  

DEP manages the nation’s largest municipal water supply system, which provides high-quality drinking water each day to nearly 10 million residents, including 8.3 million in New York City. The water is delivered from a watershed that extends more than 125 miles from the city, comprising 19 reservoirs and three controlled lakes. Approximately 7,000 miles of water mains, tunnels, and aqueducts bring water to homes and businesses throughout the five boroughs.