Mayor Eric Adams elevated NYC’s drought watch to a warning Monday amid the city’s longest rainless streak in recorded history.
Per the warning, the mayor ordered city agencies to implement various drought protocols to conserve water. Among the measures, city agencies will limit how frequently they wash their vehicles. NYC Parks will limit water use for fountains and golf courses and reduce water usage at artificial ponds and lakes unless they are habitats for fish or other wildlife.
NYC Public Schools will start a water conservation awareness program for students, and city agencies will conduct leak surveys and repair activities where necessary.
The FDNY and NYPD will also help close illegally opened hydrants.
The mayor has also paused the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Delaware Aqueduct Repair Project, an ongoing effort to fix the 86-mile pipeline that delivers half of Big Apple’s water supply from the Catskills. Pausing the project will restart the flow of water from four additional reservoirs, city officials said.
“As our city and watershed continues to experience significant precipitation shortages, today, I’m upgrading our drought watch to a drought warning, pausing our Delaware Aqueduct repair project, and ordering our agencies to immediately implement water saving measures,” Adams said. “Our city vehicles may look a bit dirtier, and our subways may look a bit dustier, but it’s what we have to do to delay or stave off a more serious drought emergency.”
A drought warning is the second of three water conservation declarations from the city. If dry conditions persist, the city may declare a drought emergency, which would involve escalating requirements on government agencies and requiring New Yorkers to reduce water usage, officials said.
The city provided additional steps New Yorkers can take to help preserve water:
- Report open fire hydrants and street leaks to 311.
- Don’t flush the toilet unnecessarily.
- Take shorter showers, which the city says can save five to seven gallons a minute. When taking a bath, fill the tub only halfway and save 10 to 15 gallons.
- Don’t run the tap while shaving, washing hands, or brushing teeth. Faucets use two to three gallons per minute.
- Fix leaks. A leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year, according to the EPA.
- Run the dishwasher and washing machine only when full. Use short cycles if available. Turn off the water while washing dishes.
- Install water-saving fixtures, including low-flow toilets and showerheads, as well as faucet aerators.
- Sweep driveways and sidewalks clean rather than washing them down with a hose.
More information is available on the DEP’s website at nyc.gov/dep.
