NEW YORK – New York City is instituting a drought warning, Mayor Eric Adams announced Monday.
The Big Apple was under before a drought watch.
New Yorkers are being asked to voluntarily conserve water.
In response to a drought warning, a number of city services are changing their behavior, including reducing the amount of washing of city vehicles. For example, the Sanitation Department suspends street flushing. The NYPD and FDNY will shut down illegally opened fire hydrants. NYCHA buildings will limit lawn watering and request leaky pipe surveys and install low-flow appliances.
A drought warning is the second of three levels of drought response: watch, warn and state of emergency.
In the event of an emergency, water shortage rules will be enforced, restaurants will not be able to serve water unless specifically requested, golf courses and sports fields will not be watered, and more.
The move comes as the Tri-State Area is experiencing a record-breaking dry spell without significant rain. October was the driest month on record for New York City, following 29 days without measurable rainfall.
The longest period without rain occurred in 1924 and lasted 36 days.
The city and surrounding areas have experienced forest fires made possible by the lack of rain. That includes recent wildfires in parks in Inhout And in Prospect Parkas well as the ongoing Jennings Creek Fire north of New York City.
