Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Department of Conservation announced Friday that a drought watch has been issued for 20 counties across New York, including Wayne County and the northern portion of Cayuga County. The advisory comes after consultation with the State Drought Management Task Force and federal partners, urging residents—especially those relying on private wells—to conserve water over the coming weeks.
“Even with some recent rain, it wasn’t enough to reduce the dry conditions we’ve seen most of the summer this year,” Governor Hochul said. “In order to prevent a more severe shortage should conditions worsen, we could see local water restrictions in the Long Island, Adirondack, and Great Lakes regions of the state.”
A drought watch is the first of four state drought advisory levels—watch, warning, emergency, and disaster—and does not impose mandatory restrictions. The counties under the watch include Chautauqua, Clinton, Erie, Essex, Franklin, Genesee, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Monroe, Nassau, Niagara, Orleans, Oswego, St. Lawrence, Suffolk, Warren, Wayne, and the northern portion of Cayuga County.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton emphasized that while no mandatory restrictions are in place, residents in the affected areas are encouraged to conserve water during the dry conditions. DEC will continue monitoring conditions and coordinate with partners to address both short-term water shortages and long-term impacts of climate change.
Although few public water-supply issues have been reported so far, below-average rainfall over the past three months, low stream flows, and declining groundwater levels prompted the action. Local water suppliers have been advised to assess current conditions, promote voluntary conservation, and manage risk where necessary.
The drought watch is based on the State Drought Index, which evaluates precipitation, reservoir and lake levels, stream flows, and groundwater levels. Observed rainfall across the affected counties has been below normal for the past 90 days, leaving streams and groundwater levels lower than typical for this time of year.
Residents can help conserve water by taking simple steps, including:
- Watering lawns only when necessary and in the early morning to reduce evaporation.
- Reusing collected water from rain barrels or dehumidifiers.
- Raising lawn mower cutting heights to maintain healthier, drought-resistant grass.
- Using a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways and sidewalks.
- Fixing leaking pipes, hoses, and faucets.
- Washing only full loads of laundry and dishes, and taking shorter showers.
- Installing water-saving plumbing fixtures and limiting car washes.
By voluntarily reducing water use and being mindful of outdoor flames, New Yorkers in Wayne, northern Cayuga, and other affected counties can help protect natural resources during the summer drought
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