Drought watch issued for NYC: What it means for New Yorkers

NEW YORK (PIX11) – New York City Mayor Eric Adams issued a citywide drought watch Saturday morning.

The mandate comes after the city’s second-longest rainless streak in recorded history for October. A drought watch is the first of three levels of water conservation declarations that the city can make.

“We encourage all New Yorkers to take this drought watch seriously and conserve water where you can,” said Chief of Staff and Extreme Weather Coordinator Camille Joseph Varlack. “Implementing voluntary water conservation measures now can help prevent the need for more stringent restrictions in the future.”

What to do in a drought watch:

• Report open fire hydrants and street leaks to 311
• Don't flush the toilet unnecessarily
• Take shorter showers or fill the tub only halfway when taking a bath 
• Don't run the tap while shaving, washing hands, or brushing your teeth
• Fix leaks such as leaky faucets
• Run the dishwasher and washing machine only when full. Use short cycles if available. Turn off the water while washing dishes.  
• Sweep driveways and sidewalks clean rather than washing them down with a hose.  
• Install water-saving fixtures, like low-flow toilets and showerheads, and faucet aerators.  

A drought watch can evolve into a drought warning or even a drought emergency. In a drought emergency, the city could enlist more requirements to reduce water usage for New Yorkers. 

New York City has currently gone more than 28 days without rain. The longest record of days without rainfall in the city was 36 days in 1869, according to the National Weather Service.