DEP Issued Drought Watch for Snyder County

Sent: Wednesday, June 21, 2023 8:27 AM
Subject: Drought Watch Declared

—DROUGHT WATCH—

Dear Public Water Supplier:

We are writing to inform you that DEP Acting Secretary Rich Negrin, on behalf of Governor Josh Shapiro, announced drought declarations on June 15, 2023. All 67 counties are in Drought Watch.

The declarations are in response to low stream flows, declining groundwater levels, and, persistent precipitation deficits.

We encourage you to use our website for Drought Information. We post drought updates on this website regularly to keep you informed of emerging conditions. The website also either provides links to information that is useful for monitoring conditions in your area or educating your customers on various methods of conserving water.

Remember, in a drought watch, we should all be seeking to reduce water use by about 5 percent through voluntary conservation measures.

Under a gubernatorial emergency proclamation, public water suppliers providing service to 50 or more customer connections with sources or a service area within a designated drought emergency area are required to develop, adopt, and submit a DCP to the Water Use and Planning Section for approval. In addition, should bans on nonessential water use become mandatory, water rationing may be approved, if necessary, by the Commonwealth Drought Coordinator, as an agent of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Council.  Prudent use of our resources now can help to prevent, or at least delay, the need for emergency measures later.

Susan K. Weaver, P.E.
Commonwealth Drought Coordinator