YORK COUNTY, Pa. — The York Water Company continues to ask all its customers to save water as York County remains the only county in all of Pennsylvania to still be under a drought warning.
With no rain in the forecast this week, an end to the company's non-essential water restriction that took effect on September 15 does not seem in sight.
It’s a challenge CEO and President J.T. Hand and his company have been facing all year long.
"It’s crazy, it’s almost exacerbating to watch a storm develop on the horizon and then to have it evaporate, quite literally dissipate as it hits York County," said Hand. "That has been the pattern over the last 60 days, 90 days, going all the way back into May. For one reason or another York County seems to be starved of the rain that we need."
Environmental experts say it’s a drought on a generational level.
"The last time we had a drought this bad, you’d have to go back probably 40 or 50 years ago," said Michael Meyer, an earth systems science professor at Harrisburg University.
A shortage of water is being exacerbated by a multitude of factors including lack of rain and an increase in demand.
"The issue that can happen with drought is it can be spotty. The reason why York is currently in a drought conservation versus Adams, Lancaster or Cumberland could be up to chance. It could be due to water usage. It could even be down to the type of topography in the county," said Meyer. "We're getting a one-two punch. Not only is there a lot less precipitation leading to a lot less water but also you have a way more demand from just all of the people have moved into the area in the last 40 or 50 years."
Lake Redman, the main water supply for the York Water Company, remains at concerning levels two months into the restriction.
"Lake Redman is currently down about four feet where it should be, it had been down seven feet [earlier in the year]," said Hand. "So the longer we can extend the capacity within our reservoir, the better we’ll be able to deal with moving into the spring weather."
The company says it needs four inches of rain before the restriction can be lifted. They add every day without rain its reservoir loses 20 million gallons of water this time of the year.
They have seen a 5% reduction in consumption so far by their customers, they hope to get to 10 to 15%.
A conservation level that will make a big difference in the long run.
"Recognize we are still in the middle of it. I know that people are going to want to celebrate their holidays," said Hand. "We are so fortunate in this community, the bounty of this community is tremendous, sometimes though you just have to take a little step back, recognize what we have conserve today so it's available tomorrow."