The Delaware River Basin Commission DRBC is preparing for the possibility of a drought emergency, something last declared in 2016, according to spokeswoman Elizabeth Brown. While recent rain has helped, there’s still a risk of reaching drought conditions across the region.
Currently, most counties in the Delaware River Basin, which spans parts of Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, are under drought watches or warnings. The exceptions are Lackawanna and Wayne counties in Pennsylvania.
The DRBC is asking everyone to follow state water restrictions and use water wisely to help conserve supplies.
A basin-wide drought would be declared if water levels in three New York City reservoirs—Cannonsville, Pepacton, and Neversink—drop below a certain point. As of now, the reservoirs have 25.9 billion gallons more than the drought watch level.
Kristen Bowman Kavanagh, DRBC’s Executive Director, emphasized the importance of protecting water for over 14 million people who rely on the Delaware River Basin. The commission also manages river flows to prevent saltwater from contaminating drinking water supplies, particularly for cities like Philadelphia.
To prepare for worsening conditions, the DRBC approved special permits to adjust how water is released from reservoirs to maintain river flow. If necessary, they’ll reduce water flow targets in Montague, New Jersey, and Trenton, New Jersey. Additional water could also be released from Lake Wallenpaupack and New York’s Mongaup system to help meet these goals.
Currently, the “salt front,” where saltwater from the ocean mixes with the river, is closer to Philadelphia than usual. However, it’s still far from major drinking water sources.
For more details on the DRBC’s plans and the latest updates on water conditions, visit their website at nj.gov/drbc.