Community Corner

Residents Asked To Preserve Water As East Brunswick OEM Declares Drought Warning

The goal is to preserve and balance available water supplies, officials said.

(Patch Graphics)

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — The East Brunswick Office of Emergency Management on Wednesday declared a drought in the township.

As most of the state continues to be stuck in severe or extreme drought, many water supplies remain below their normal capacity.

The goal of a drought warning is to preserve and balance available water supplies in an effort to avert more serious water shortages in the future, officials said.

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“The Administrative Order establishes a formal process for the DEP to work with water suppliers in affected regions to ensure no single water supplier or region faces a significant shortfall if dry weather and high customer demand continue,” officials said.

“In consideration and preparation for Drought Warning status, DEP has been consulting with water suppliers to assess conditions, ensure they are fully aware of the situation, and that they are able to work cooperatively with the DEP. The public is strongly encouraged to follow these tips to reduce water use:

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  • Only use a watering can to water flowers and shrubs or allow them to go dormant for the season.
  • Use a broom to sweep the sidewalk, rather than a hose.
  • Use a commercial car wash that recycles water, as washing your car at home typically results in more water use.
  • To save water at home, fix leaky faucets and pipes. Consider replacing your toilet with a low-flow version; this can save around 11,000 gallons per year.
  • Upgrade your showerhead to low-flow versions, which can save some 7,700 gallons per year.
  • Upgrade your faucets or install faucet aerators; this can save some 16,000 gallons per year.

Residents can also view below flyers for additional information: water-conservation-spring-2025-flyer2.pdf dep-drought-flyer-1.pdf For more state water supply status information and to view the Administrative Order, visit njdrought.org

Have a correction or a news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com

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