Rockland enters Drought Warning

The State of New York has upgraded the Hudson Valley region from a Drought Watch to a Drought Warning. There is still no immediate concern for water sources in Rockland, but concern grows the longer the dry period continues. A Drought Warning is the second of four levels of the state drought advisory: watch, warning, emergency, and disaster. Under a Drought Warning, voluntary water conservation is intensified, and public water supplies are advised to update and implement local drought contingency plans.

“There is still time for our water resources to recover before the spring.  Fortunately, there is some rain in the forecast, but the effects will likely not be felt immediately; water conservation can help minimize the stress on our water systems,” said Sam Rulli, Director of Environmental Health.

Voluntary water conservation measures are strongly urged during this time to reduce stress on County reservoirs and water supplies and to reduce threats of a more serious water shortage in the near future. The Rockland County Task Force on Water Resources Management adopted a Comprehensive Water Conservation and Implementation Plan in 2020, which outlined 20 measures for the public, businesses, academic institutions, and government agencies to implement and help meet the County’s conservation goals.

The following water conservation practices are highly encouraged:

– Take shorter showers or fill bathtubs halfway for bathing.

– Do not flush the toilet unnecessarily; dispose of tissues, insects, and other similar waste in the trash rather than the toilet.

– Run the dishwasher and washing machine only with a full load; use the “light wash” feature when possible.

– Fix plumbing, faucet, and hose leaks as soon as possible.

– Do not run the faucet when brushing teeth, shaving, or washing hands.

– Avoid washing vehicles or hosing down sidewalks; sweep driveways instead.

Businesses are encouraged to develop a water emergency operation plan to understand daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonal use, prioritize critical operations, establish procedures for emergency shut offs, and authorize staff to implement the plan in case of an emergency.

In addition, observe the Executive Order Burn Ban issued on 11/1/2024. This ban is still in effect and 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, 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.

If you own a private well and think you are affected by the drought, contact a licensed well contractor to evaluate your well. The only way to confirm if your well is dry is to measure the water level in the well. There may be a simple mechanical fix, electrical issues, or the need to deepen or drill a new well. If you have the option to connect to a public water service, it is highly advisable to use that resource.

Find a Registered Well Contactors in Rockland County: https://rcklnd.us/doh-well-contractors.

For more information, call the RCDOH Private Well Program at 845-364-2656.

The Rockland County Department of Health will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates. For more information about the Drought Warning, visit Rockland County Conditions | Drought.gov and the NYS DEC Current Drought Conditions.