Chester County Under Drought Watch

Chester County is one of 40 counties across Pennsylvania currently under a drought watch. The county's 90-day rainfall total was 4.4 inches below normal as of Aug. 5, when the state Department of Environmental Protection issued the watch.

A drought watch is the least severe of a three-tier classification system, preceding a drought warning and then emergency. It calls for a voluntary 5 percent reduction in non-essential water use and serves as notice that further measures may become necessary.

The DEP suggests the following water-conservation methods:

• Install low-flow plumbing fixtures and aerators on faucets.
• Check for household leaks. A leaking toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water each day.
• Take short showers instead of baths.
• Replace older appliances with high-efficiency, front-loading models that use about 30 percent less water and 40 to 50 percent less energy.
• Run dishwashers and washing machines only with full loads.
• Keep water in the refrigerator to avoid running water from a faucet until it is cold.

Four counties in northern Pennsylvania—Cameron, Elk, McKean and Potter—are under a drought warning.

Related Topics: Rain and Weather