Drought Watch Issued For Essex County

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection issued a drought watch on Wednesday for New Jersey’s Northeast, Central, and Coastal North water supply regions, urging residents in the affected areas to “voluntarily conserve water.”

The drought watch alert is due to “continued dry weather and above-average temperatures,” the NJDEP stated on its website.

The three affected drought regions include all or parts of 12 counties, including Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset and Union.

“The purpose of the watch is to raise public awareness, formally alert all water suppliers in the region of the situation, and to seek voluntary cooperation to preserve existing supplies in the affected regions, with water demand still high,” the NJDEP stated.

HOW TO CONSERVE

Some DEP-suggested water conservation tips include:

• Do not over-water lawns and landscaping. Two times per week for 30 minutes in morning or late evening typically is sufficient. Use a hose with a hand-held nozzle to water flowers and shrubs.
• Avoid watering lawns and plants during the heat of the day, as this promotes evaporation and water waste.
• Use a broom to sweep the sidewalk, rather than a hose.
• To save water at home, fix leaky faucets and pipes.
• Turn off the faucet while brushing teeth and shaving.
• Run washing machines and dishwashers only when full.