Drought Threatens Much Of PA, 32 Counties Asked Reduce Water Use

HARRISBURG, PA — Nearly half of Pennsylvania's counties are now under either a drought watch or a drought warning.

The Commonwealth Drought Task Force on Wednesday moved Clinton and McKean counties to the drought warning and added 13 counties to the drought watch.

Clinton, McKean, and Potter counties are under the warning.

There are now 29 counties on drought watch: Armstrong, Blair, Bradford, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Cumberland, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Juniata, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga, Union, Warren, and Wyoming.

Residents under a drought warning should reduce their individual water use 10 to 15 percent, or about six to nine gallons a day. Those under a drought watch should reduce their individual water use five to 10 percent, or three to six gallons of water per day.

“It's going to take a lot of precipitation to get us out of these deficits over time. We are asking residents in these counties to use water wisely and follow simple water conservation tips to ease the demand for water,” DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell said in a news release.

All water suppliers in these counties have been notified of the need to monitor their supplies and be prepared by updating their drought contingency plans as necessary, the DEP said.

"Varying localized conditions may lead water suppliers or municipalities to ask residents for more stringent conservation actions by residents," the DEP said.