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According to the Department of Health, the county is experiencing extremely dry conditions this fall, with little rain predicted in the long-term forecast.
Although no immediate concerns exist for water sources, officials said 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: watch, warning, emergency, and disaster.
County officials said there was 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.
They added that although we are not in an emergency now, it would be problematic if these dry conditions continued 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 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 by 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.”
To help conserve water, residents can:
- To prevent water waste, check toilets, faucets, and pipes for leaks and fix them as soon as possible.
- Take shorter showers – this can help reduce water demand.
In addition, residents are asked to observe the Executive Order Burn Ban issued on Friday, Nov. 1, 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.
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