New Jersey issues drought watch; asks some residents to voluntarily conserve water

TRENTON (WABC) -- State officials have issued a drought watch for parts of central, coastal and northern New Jersey.

The Environmental Protection Department announced the move Wednesday, saying too little rainfall was to blame.

The department is urging residents to voluntarily conserve their water use.

The affected regions include all or parts of 12 counties, including Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset and Union.

Officials suggest residents shouldn't over-water lawns. But they should fix leaky pipes and turn off faucets while brushing their teeth or shaving.

The department says if the weather remains warm and dry, it could consider issuing a drought warning. That could lead to officials asking water companies to come up with plans to transfer water from areas with more to those with less.

"We have been carefully tracking precipitation, stream flows, ground water and reservoir levels since the spring and over the course of the very dry summer," DEP Commissioner Bob Martin said. "While it is not uncommon to see reduced stream flows and ground water levels by the end of the summer season, we are beginning to observe signs of stress in our water supply indicators, and this warrants closer scrutiny and public cooperation."

"We are asking residents to be aware of the situation and use water more carefully and deliberatively, especially when it comes to lawn watering and other non-essential uses. The goal is to moderate water demand through voluntary conservation."

Some suggested water conservation tips include:

* Do not over-water lawns and landscaping. Two times per week for 30 minutes in morning or late evening typically is sufficient. Use a hose with a hand-held nozzle to water flowers and shrubs.

* Avoid watering lawns and plants during the heat of the day, as this promotes evaporation and water waste.

* Use a broom to sweep the sidewalk, rather than a hose.

* To save water at home, fix leaky faucets and pipes.

* Turn off the faucet while brushing teeth and shaving.

* Run washing machines and dishwashers only when full.

The DEP has observed significant reservoir level declines in some water systems, particularly United Water New Jersey's Oradell reservoir system in Bergen County. While measurable rainfall during the second week of September provided some temporary relief, it did not appreciably improve the water supply situation in the three drought regions. Additionally, the National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center is projecting above-average temperatures and dry weather to continue through October.

United Water New Jersey serves approximately 800,000 customers in Bergen and northern Hudson counties. Although combined reservoir storage across Northeastern New Jersey is only marginally below normal for this time of year, the region is potentially vulnerable because of United Water New Jersey's reliance on other major suppliers to complement its supply when demands are unusually high. If current conditions persist, other interconnected water systems could be adversely affected if inflated demands are left unchecked.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)