The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has issued a drought watch for parts of the state–including Northampton, Lehigh and Bucks counties–and is urging residents and businesses to voluntarily reduce water consumption by 5 percent.
In the Lehigh Valley there has been no significant rainfall since late September, and the abnormally dry conditions are forecast to continue into the near future. October was the driest month on record in Allentown, according to the National Weather Service, which measured only .02 of rain at Lehigh Valley International Airport. The previous record driest month was October 1963, when .15 of rain was recorded in Allentown.
The DEP cited the record dry conditions and low streamflow as the primary reasons for the watch, which extends across 33 of the state’s 67 counties. Two counties–Berks and Schuylkill–are under a drought warning.
“Much of the Commonwealth is at a high risk for fire danger as a result of dry conditions, and it is critical that Pennsylvanians use extreme caution when handling fire or avoid any burning as these conditions persist,” Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said Friday, a day before a large wildfire ignited on the Blue Mountain near the Northampton-Carbon county line. As of Sunday afternoon crews from both counties continued to battle the blaze, which was burning on elevated terrain on over 100 acres near Walnutport.
Under the drought watch, residents and businesses are encouraged to voluntarily conserve water by reducing nonessential use. Public water suppliers may request water conservation measures to ensure reliable delivery of drinking water. A drought watch is the first stage in the DEP’s three-stage drought response plan. If conditions persist or worsen, the DEP may implement a drought warning, during which residents are encouraged to reduce their water consumption by 10 to 15 percent. The highest response level in Pennsylvania is a drought emergency, which can be declared by the governor and can include mandatory water restrictions.
For more information on the drought watch, visit the DEP website.
This local news story was reported with generative AI assistance.
