NJ DEP Issues Drought Warning For Sussex County

SUSSEX COUNTY, N.J.– The state's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued drought warnings to 14 counties, including Sussex.
The warnings were issued "due to ongoing precipitation deficits and deteriorating water-supply conditions, particularly storage levels in reservoirs," according to DEP Commissioner Bob Martin.

Martin signed the first administrative order for a drought warning in the state since 2001. The 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 should dry weather and high customer demand continue," he said.

The designation enables the DEP to "more closely manage reservoir systems by directing water
transfers among systems, controlling releases from reservoirs, and modifying the rate of flow in streams and rivers in order to balance ecological protection and needs of water suppliers," according to Martin.

“The situation in our reservoir systems is becoming more critical, with some systems dropping to half their capacity or less,” he said. “Without knowing how much precipitation we are going to get over the fall and
winter to replenish our water sources, it is vital that every resident and business step up efforts to voluntarily reduce water use in the hopes of averting a water emergency and mandatory restrictions.”

The other counties include: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Union and Warren counties.

According to the DEP, Morris, Sussex and Warren counties rely primarily on groundwater and "have been included in the warning because groundwater in this area is rated as extremely dry while
precipitation and stream flows are rated as severely dry."

The DEP offered tips to reduce water use:

• At this time of year, it is appropriate to let your lawns go dormant.
• Turn sprinkler systems off automatic timers.
• Use a hose with a hand-held nozzle to water flowers and shrubs, or let them go dormant.
• Use a broom to sweep the sidewalk, rather than a hose.
• Wash vehicles with a bucket and do not run the hose more than necessary, or use a commercial car wash that recycles water.

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