Murphy Declares Drought Warning in New Jersey
New Jersey is facing one of its driest periods in recent history, prompting Governor Phil Murphy and DEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette to announce a Drought Warning across the state.
The warning, shared during a virtual press conference, urges everyone to cut back on water use as the state’s water supplies are running dangerously low.
Governor Murphy emphasized the urgent need for all New Jerseyans to adjust their water usage to prevent worsening conditions.
Murphy Declares Drought Warning in New Jersey
“We’re dealing with unusual weather patterns due to climate change, and we need everyone to do their part,” said the Governor. Commissioner LaTourette added, “We’ve seen record-low rainfall combined with higher-than-average temperatures, which is draining our water supplies.”
To help ease the situation, the DEP is asking residents to follow these simple water-saving tips:
Outdoors:
- Let your lawn go dormant; it’s normal for this season.
- Turn off and winterize your irrigation systems immediately.
- Water flowers and shrubs sparingly with a watering can or let them go dormant.
- Use a broom instead of a hose to clean sidewalks.
- Use a commercial car wash that recycles water, rather than washing your car at home.
Indoors:
- Fix any leaky faucets or pipes to avoid wasting water.
- Consider switching to low-flow toilets, which can save up to 11,000 gallons a year.
- Upgrade to low-flow showerheads, saving about 7,700 gallons annually.
- Install faucet aerators or upgrade your faucets to save around 16,000 gallons per year.
It needs to be said that looking further into the weather forecast, the next time, at the time of this writing, that we will see rainfall in the state will be on Friday November 22nd.
This means we will most likely see these warnings in effect for quite some time.
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The Drought Warning is a more serious level than the previously declared Drought Watch from mid-October. It allows the DEP to take direct action, like:
- Managing water transfers between systems.
- Controlling water releases from reservoirs.
- Adjusting stream and river flows to protect ecosystems and ensure enough water for everyone.
This action follows a hearing with water suppliers to review the state’s water conditions and explore options to prevent severe shortages. The last time New Jersey faced a similar drought warning was back in 2016, which lasted in some areas until 2017.
We are also dealing with a wildfire risk as there are multiple fires going on at the same time in the state.
At the moment the state is enforcing mandatory Stage 3 fire restrictions statewide. This means:
- No open fires are allowed unless in an elevated propane or electric stove.
- No wood or charcoal fires are permitted.
- Using kerosene or gas torches is strictly prohibited.
These restrictions are in place to protect both residents and firefighters as the dry conditions persist.
As New Jersey braces for a potentially harsh winter, officials are urging everyone to act now to conserve water and stay cautious outdoors.
For updates on water conservation measures, visit the Department of Environmental Protection‘s website.