PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The region is experiencing the driest weather conditions it has seen in nearly 120 years. New Jersey’s governor on Wednesday escalated a statewide drought watch to a drought warning, giving the state more control over public water supplies.
Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration is also asking people to voluntarily conserve water. Residents are encouraged to take shorter showers, turn the faucet off while brushing their teeth, and wait until the dishwasher is full to run it.
Murphy stopped short of issuing a drought emergency, which would require mandatory water usage restrictions.
Firefighters across New Jersey have been battling multiple wildfires during this record-breaking dry spell. Since early October, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service has responded to 537 wildfires — a more than 1,300% increase over the same time last year, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
Fire restrictions are also in effect, which prohibit outdoor burns like bonfires, campfires and the burning of trash.
The state enacted a drought watch in mid-October. Now with a drought warning status, the DEP has more control over reservoirs and can modify the rate of flow in streams and rivers — an effort to preserve water supplies and avert shortages.
New Jersey last issued a drought warning in October 2016.