PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Pennsylvania has issued a statewide drought watch, and residents and businesses are encouraged to voluntarily conserve water usage by 5% to 10%.
Normally, Philadelphia gets about 16.65 inches of rain from January through May. This year, it has seen only 12.08 inches.
Despite this week’s rain, it just isn’t enough.
People can cut back on their water usage by doing the following:
— Don’t let the faucet run while brushing teeth or shaving
— Take shorter showers
— Don’t hose off the driveway and sidewalks
— Check for household leaks — a leaking toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water daily
— Run the dishwasher and washing machine less often and only with full loads
A drought watch is the first step in an escalating process. It is followed by a warning, then an emergency, which would enable mandatory restrictions.