Heavy rain in July helped the drought situation in some areas of New Jersey, but others remain extremely dry.
A series of rain storms that drenched New Jersey during the last two weeks of July helped ease the drought conditions in some parts of the state, but other areas continue to be unusually dry, according to the federal agency that monitors drought conditions.
The latest map released by the U.S. Drought Monitor Thursday morning shows fewer areas of New Jersey with "abnormally dry" conditions and a slightly lower chunk of the state with "moderate drought" conditions.
Over the past seven days, the percentage of New Jersey that was considered to be abnormally dry dropped from 68 percent to 36.5 percent and the area designated as having moderate drought conditions dipped from 38 percent to 24.4 percent.
Areas of New Jersey shaded in tan have moderate drought conditions, and areas shaded in yellow are "abnormally dry." (U.S. Drought Monitor) Last Thursday, the state Department of Environmental Protection issued a drought watch for the northern half of New Jersey, urging residents to voluntarily conserve water. The watch covers Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren counties.
The DEP has kept the drought watch intact this week, despite the recent rainfall and subsequent increase in stream flow and reservoir levels.
"The rainfall we experienced was a very big help, helping to reverse the downward trend in northern New Jersey's reservoirs," DEP spokesman Larry Hajna said Thursday morning. "But we still have to monitor the situation, as August and early fall can be be pretty dry, which could drive demand for water up again. So we're continuing to encourage residents to be mindful of their water use."
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Hajna noted the storms last weekend dumped torrential rain on some counties, such as Mercer, Middlesex, Hunterdon and Passaic, and very little rain on others, including Atlantic, Cumberland and Cape May.
The DEP is asking residents in northern New Jersey to voluntarily conserve water and residents in the rest of the state to "practice wise water use."
Water conservation tips
These are among the water conservation tips recommended by the state DEP, which says millions of gallons of water could be saved each day if everyone follows these practices.
- Do not over-water lawns and landscaping. Two times per week for 30 minutes in the morning or late evening typically is sufficient.
- Use a hose with a hand-held nozzle to water flowers and shrubs.
- Avoid watering lawns and plants during the heat of the day, since much of this water will evaporate without helping the lawn.
- Use a broom to sweep the sidewalk, instead of using a hose.
- To save water at home, fix leaky faucets and pipes.
- Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth and shaving.
- Run washing machines and dishwashers only when they are full.
Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality or like him on Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.