State leaders are asking, but not yet demanding, that people use less water after declaring a statewide drought warning Wednesday.
“A warning condition is an administrative tool that impacts supply-side actions, not consumer-side actions,” said Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette. “The warning enables the DEP to order changes to passing flows and streams to reservoir releases, and other actions.”
New Jersey experienced its driest two months on record in September and October, and the water levels at some reservoirs have hit historic lows. A drought emergency, which would place restrictions on water use, has not been declared, but it hasn’t been ruled out.
“Every one of us needs to do whatever we can to conserve water,” said Gov. Phil Murphy. “It goes without saying this is not the time to be lighting outdoor fires, either. We simply cannot risk it.”
LaTourette said the state will not escape these conditions without average or above-average rainfall over the next several months. Drought conditions, along with high winds, have been blamed for stoking wildfires around the state.
