(Photo by Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/picture alliance via Getty Images) HARRISBURG, Pa. - The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) Commonwealth Drought Task Force has declared a drought watch for 36 counties and the agency is asking for voluntary water conversation.
This comes as the Delaware Valley has had five heatwaves since the start of summer. "A few counties have experienced very dry conditions over the summer, and a number of others have inched not increasingly dry conditions in recent weeks.
We're asking Pennsylvanians in all of these counties to use water wisely and follow simple water conservation tips to ease the demand for water," Ramez Ziadeh, DEP's Acting Secretary, said.
According to the agency, the following counties are on drought watch: Residents in these communities are asked to reduce their individual water use by five to ten percent or by a reduction of three to six gallons of water each day.