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Pennsylvania’s Drought Update

Pennsylvania’s Drought Update. January 28, 2002. Drought ’02. Will There Be Enough Water for Everyone?. Drought. Condition resulting primarily from lack of precipitation (or recharge) such that water resources are not adequate to meet demands. How Do We Know We Are Having a Drought? .

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Pennsylvania’s Drought Update

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  1. Pennsylvania’s Drought Update January 28, 2002

  2. Drought ’02 Will There Be Enough Water for Everyone?

  3. Drought • Condition resulting primarily from lack of precipitation (or recharge) such that water resources are not adequate to meet demands

  4. How Do We Know We Are Having a Drought? • Precipitation • Stream flow • Groundwater levels • Palmer drought index • Reservoir levels

  5. Precipitation Gages437 Total Sites State-wide (226 Automated)

  6. Stream Flow Gages 237 gages in state, 59 used for drought monitoring

  7. Monitoring Wells 67 observation wells state-wide 40 used to make drought monitoring decisions

  8. Palmer Drought Index RegionsCompiled weekly by the National Weather Service

  9. Reservoir Levels Storage in several large public water supply reservoirs are used for drought monitoring.

  10. Drought Triggers

  11. Levels of Drought

  12. 90-day Precipitation Map

  13. Stream Flows

  14. Groundwater Levels

  15. Palmer Index

  16. New York City Reservoirs Total Reservoir StorageJanuary 15, 2002 (Percentage of Capacity) 168 billion gallons less than last year at this time

  17. Water Supplies in Trouble • 29-Voluntary Water Use Restrictions • 42- Mandatory Water Use Restrictions • 25 Counties affected

  18. Status of Other States

  19. Upgraded to warning 1/18/02 Upgraded to watch 1/18/02

  20. Maryland Watch Watch Watch Normal

  21. Watch Warning Watch Watch Warning Warning

  22. For Immediate Release December 18, 2001 DROUGHT EMERGENCY DECLARED IN THE DELAWARE RIVER BASIN (WEST TRENTON, N.J.) - With reservoir storage and ground water supplies well below seasonable averages, the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) today declared a drought emergency in the 13,539 square-mile watershed which drains portions of New York State, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.

  23. DEP Drought Coordination • DEP coordinates with the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) and the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC)- interstate-federal agencies responsible for managing the water resources within the Delaware and Susquehanna River watersheds

  24. How Bad is It? ’98-’99 vs ’01-’02

  25. ’98-’99 Drought(in current drought warning area) • We entered the summer of ’98 with normal to above normal stream and well levels • Precipitation dropped off from July ’98 through December ’98 • Significant precipitation occurred statewide in January ’99. • It took two hurricanes (Dennis and Floyd) in September ’99 to raise stream and well levels

  26. ’01-’02(in current drought warning area) • We have had below normal precipitation since October 2000 • Groundwater and stream levels have been below normal since about June • Gages currently show below normal precipitation, stream and well levels in a season with frozen ground conditions and lower recharge potential

  27. Example of Trends in Cumberland County

  28. Example of Trends in Cumberland County

  29. Long-range Forecast

  30. Governor Declares an Emergency on a County by County Basis PEMA drought management regulations activated banning non-essential water use How Do We Manage a Drought? • Watch • Warning • Emergency

  31. Overview of Drought Management Regulations • Revised regulations effective July 7, 2001 • Focus on planning and not reacting • Recognizes advances in technology • Reflects lessons learned during drought emergency of ’98 & ‘99

  32. Regulations Addressing Drought Management

  33. CHAPTER 118. REDUCTIONS OF MAJOR WATER USE IN A COMMONWEALTH DROUGHT EMERGENCY AREA CHAPTER 119. PROHIBITION OF NONESSENTIAL WATER USES IN A COMMONWEALTH DROUGHT EMERGENCY AREA CHAPTER 120. LOCAL WATER RATIONING PLANS

  34. Chapter 118 • Provides for preparation and implementation of drought contingency plans by: • Public water supplies (>50 connections) • Major commercial water users • Major industrial water users

  35. Drought Contingency Plan Submission • Any time • As directed by Governor’s emergency proclamation • As ordered by Commonwealth Drought Coordinator (CDC)

  36. Public Water Supply Drought Contingency Plan Elements: • Analysis of water availability and water use over the last 12 month period • Description of trigger levels • Plan of action • Variance procedures • Desirable to have plan implemented at all times

  37. Self-supplied Commercial and Industrial Water UsersContingency Plans • Users of water greater than 100,000 gallons per day (gpd) • Develop, adopt and make plans available • Users of water greater than 500,000 gpd • Develop, adopt and submit plans to CDC • Other water users upon order from CDC

  38. Commercial and Industrial Drought Contingency Plan Elements: • Analysis of water availability and water use over past 12 months

  39. Commercial and Industrial Drought Contingency Plan Elements: • Description of previously undertaken water conservation measures

  40. Commercial and Industrial Drought Contingency Plan Elements: • Plan of actions based on 5%, 15%, 25%, 35% and 50% reduction in water use

  41. Commercial and Industrial Contingency Plan Implementation • As ordered by CDC • Significant drought required to prompt implementation order • As directed in a Governor’s emergency proclamation

  42. County Drought Management Task Force • Established by County Commissioners within time frame specified in Governor’s Emergency Proclamation • Coordinates and monitors all drought reporting and water conservation measures undertaken in the county • Reports monthly to CDC

  43. Non-essential uses Chapter 119 • Restricts non-essential water uses in response to a drought or water shortage emergency declared by the Governor

  44. Watering grass Athletic fields (except under approved plan) Gardens and Landscaping Golf Courses (except under approved plan) Paved surfaces Ornamental uses Mobile equipment Serving in restaurants (unless requested) Swimming pools Specific fire hydrant uses Use of any water not for a beneficial use Prohibition of Non-essential Water Uses

  45. Exceptions Each prohibition has associated limited exceptions listed in Chapter 119 (for example-watering athletic fields is allowable under an approved plan).

  46. Exemptions and Variances • Water user must demonstrate extraordinary hardship • Public water suppliers must demonstrate adequate water supply and follow an approved drought contingency plan

  47. Exemptions and Variances • CDC makes a decision within 7 working days (one day if perishable products are involved) • Areawide exemptions or variances for similar situated water users possible • Decisions may be appealed to PEMA

  48. Chapter 120 • Establishes procedures for the CDC to review and approve local water rationing plans in response to severe local water shortages. Such plans can be approved only under the authority of a declared emergency.

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