Drought warning issued in NYC: What this means

NEW YORK CITY - A drought warning for New York City has been issued, NYC Emergency Management said.

Dry conditions across the Northeast have been blamed for hundreds of brush fires. They had already prompted New York City and state officials to implement water-conservation protocols when Mayor Eric Adams upgraded the drought warning and temporarily halted a $2 billion aqueduct repair project that had stopped drinking water from flowing from some reservoirs in the Catskill region.

"New Yorkers should not under estimate the dry weather and what it means," Adams said at a news conference, noting the recent fires. "The fire risk is high and the fire risk is real."

RELATED: NJ to issue drought warning, mandatory water restrictions could follow

The city may elevate the warning to an emergency if dry conditions persist. A drought emergency involves requiring residents and city agencies to cut down on water usage. Upgrading from a watch to a warning requires a range of conservation protocols, Adams said.

Water-saving measures planned for the coming weeks will include washing buses and subway cars less frequently and limiting water use for fountains and golf courses, the mayor said.

"Our city vehicles may look a bit dirtier, and our subways may look a bit dustier, but it’s what we have to do to delay or stave off a more serious drought emergency," he said.

At the same time on Monday, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul issued a statewide drought watch and elevated 15 counties to drought warning status, asking residents to conserve water whenever possible.

The shut-off of a stretch of the Delaware Aqueduct to address leaks had been in the works for years.

The aqueduct carries water for 85 miles (137 kilometers) from four reservoirs in the Catskill region to other reservoirs in the city's northern suburbs.

A portion of the aqueduct was shut off in early October but will now be turned back on because water levels across the city's reservoir system are too low to make up the difference, officials with the city Department of Environmental Protection said.

This comes after New York City issued a citywide drought watch on Nov. 2 after a historic lack of precipitation. The last drought warning in New York City was issued in January 2002.

"Recent unseasonably warm weather and lack of precipitation have led to dry conditions for many counties in New York, resulting in Hudson Valley and New York City area counties being elevated to drought warning status and a statewide drought watch," NY Gov. Kathy Hochul said. 

Just 0.01 inches (0.02 cm) of rain fell last month on the city’s Central Park, where October normally brings about 4.4 inches (11.2 cm) of precipitation, National Weather Service records show. City Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Rohit Aggarwala said it was the driest October in over 150 years of records.

Counties under the drought warning are Bronx, Delaware, Dutchess, Greene, Kings, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Schoharie, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester.

How to conserve water

Here's how New Yorkers can conserve water at this time: 

• Reuse water collected in rain barrels, dehumidifiers or air conditioners to water plants.
• Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways and sidewalks.
• Fix leaking pipes, fixtures, toilets, hoses and faucets.
• Wash only full loads of dishes and laundry.
• Take shorter showers or fill the bathtub partly.
• Install water saving plumbing fixtures.
• Don’t run the tap to make water hot or cold.
• Wash cars less frequently.

To learn more on how to save water, click here.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.