Hershey, Pa. – Pennsylvania American Water today requested that customers served by its Chester and Cumberland county systems voluntarily reduce water consumption in support of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) drought watch declaration. Yesterday, DEP added four counties to the list, including Chester and Cumberland, which expands the drought watch announced in early August for 34 Pennsylvania counties due to below-normal rainfall, low stream flows and declining groundwater levels.
According to DEP, a drought watch declaration is the first and least severe level of the state’s three drought classifications. With the latest announcement, the drought watch affects Pennsylvania American Water customers in the following counties, where residents are requested to voluntarily reduce non-essential water use:
· Armstrong
· Berks
· Centre
· Chester
· Clarion
· Clearfield
· Clinton
· Cumberland
· Dauphin
· Indiana
· Jefferson
· Lawrence
· Lebanon
· McKean
· Northampton
· Schuylkill
· Union
“We want to reinforce DEP’s request that homeowners and businesses do what they can to voluntarily reduce water consumption during this drought watch,” said Christopher Abruzzo, director of Water Quality and Environmental Compliance for Pennsylvania American Water. “Currently, our sources are at adequate levels and we are carefully monitoring our supplies. We are asking our customers to do their part now so we don’t face more severe conditions later this summer and into the fall.”
Pennsylvania American Water offers the following tips for conserving water inside your home:
· Install water-saving showerheads and faucet aerators in your sinks.
· Shorten showers to 7-10 minutes.
· Turn off the water while brushing teeth.
· Run only full load in the dishwasher and adjust washing machine water levels to match load size.
· Rinse produce in a basin rather than under running water.
· Keep water in the refrigerator to avoid running water from a faucet until it is cold.
· Check your toilets for leaks
Pennsylvania American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 2.3 million people. Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. Marking its 130th anniversary this year, the company employs more than 6,700 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to an estimated 15 million people in 47 states and Ontario, Canada. More information can be found at www.amwater.com.
Source: Pennsylvania American Water
