On July 27, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it is maintaining a statewide drought watch, after a meeting of the Commonwealth Drought Task Force.

While not required, residents and non-farm businesses are encouraged to voluntarily conserve water by reducing their nonessential water use.

Precipitation over the last month has increased, and stream flows are responding. However, longer term precipitation deficits persist in many areas, and groundwater levels remain low in some counties:

-- Northwest: Clarion, Crawford, Elk, Forest, Mercer, Venango, and Warren

-- Central: Centre, Clinton, Cumberland, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Lancaster, Lebanon, Montour, Perry, and Union

-- East: Lackawanna, Lehigh, and Wayne

Twenty-one public water suppliers are requesting or requiring water conservation in their communities.

Click Here for the complete announcement.

For a map of daily drought status and a weekly list of public water suppliers that are requesting or requiring water use reduction, visit DEP's Drought Information webpage.

[Posted: July 27, 2023]

7/31/2023