Drought watch continues

Rockland County is experiencing extremely dry conditions this fall, with little rain predicted in the long-term forecast.  Although no immediate concerns exist for our water sources, they could become stressed if these dry conditions continue over the winter months. A drought watch is the first of four levels of State drought advisories, which are watch, warning, emergency, and disaster.

Fortunately, we had above-average rainfall in the 12 months before this dry period, and storage levels in the Lake Deforest reservoir are at near-average levels for this time of year. Surface and groundwater sources typically fill and recover over the cooler months when water usage is low. 

Although we are not in an emergency now, it would be problematic if these dry conditions continue over the winter.  The Rockland County Department of Health has been monitoring water usage in the county which has been relatively low; however, water conservation is encouraged to preserve our drinking water resources and keep water available for fighting fires. 

“Back in 2022 when this County was faced with a water emergency, the people of Rockland stepped up to do the right thing and cut back water usage 15 percent below average,” said County Executive Ed Day. “I am once again asking our residents to do their part and reduce water usage until we surpass this drought.”

“Dry periods like we are currently experiencing can have a significant impact on our water resources when they occur in the spring and summer months, but we still have time to recover when they occur in the fall.  However, we cannot predict if we are at the beginning of an extended dry spell or if rainfall will normalize when we need it to,” said Sam Rulli, Director of Environmental Health.

To help conserve water, residents can:

Check toilets, faucets, and pipes for leaks to prevent water waste; fix these leaks as soon as possible.

Take shorter showers – this can help reduce our water demand.

For additional suggestions on how to conserve water indoors, visit the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

In addition, observe the Executive Order Burn Ban issued on 11/1/2024 which prohibits all outdoor burning activities, including but not limited to the burning of brush, leaves, and other yard debris, along with fire pits and campfires, are all restricted until further notice. This decision is in response to abnormally dry conditions that pose a significant risk for fires to ignite and spread quickly due to the recent lack of rainfall, low humidity, and gusty winds.

The Rockland County Department of Health will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates. 

For more information about the drought watch, visit Rockland County Conditions | Drought.gov and the NYS DEC Press Release.