Photo: Getty Images
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has declared a drought warning due to the state's ongoing dry spell, the worst in nearly 120 years. The warning allows officials to control reservoir releases and modify stream flow rates to conserve water. This is one step below a water emergency and mandatory restrictions. The state has experienced a significant increase in wildfires, with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service responding to 537 blazes since early October, burning thousands of acres. This is 500 more fires than during the same period last year, according to NBC News.
The drought warning is the first since 2016 and comes after a virtual state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) meeting where some attendees criticized officials for not declaring an emergency that would invoke mandatory restrictions. However, Governor Murphy is asking residents to voluntarily conserve water and comply with the outdoor fire ban declared a month ago. Violators could face fines or criminal charges. The governor warned that the dry conditions are likely to continue, and if they worsen, the state may have to implement mandatory water restrictions.
The drought has severely depleted the state's water supplies. The Wanaque Reservoir, a major water source, was at 45% capacity, and the Manasquan Reservoir was at 51% of capacity. The Passaic River, which supplies drinking water, was at about 14% of normal levels. New Jersey American Water, which serves about 2.9 million people in the state, issued a conservation notice to its customers, urging them to restrict water use.
The dry conditions are part of a broader drought across the Northeast. In October, cities such as Newark, New Jersey; Wilmington, Delaware; and Norfolk, Virginia, recorded no rain at all. The dry spell has also led to a staggering increase in wildfires, with firefighters battling nearly 1,300 wildfires that have burned over 11,000 acres in New Jersey so far this year, according to the New Jersey Monitor.