Significant Rainfall in Watershed and Melting Snowpack in Mountain Regions Greatly Improved Reservoir Storage Levels
Pausing $2 Billion Delaware Aqueduct Repair Project Enabled DEP to Optimize Flow, Enhance Water Supply Flexibility to Meet City Water Demands
NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala today downgraded the city’s drought warning to a drought watch. Significant rainfall and melting snowpack in the city’s upstate watershed have significantly replenished reservoir levels, decreasing the risk of a water shortage. Additionally, the temporary pause of the $2 billion Delaware Aqueduct repair project has restored flow from four critical reservoirs and enhanced water supply flexibility to meet the city’s water demands. As a result of all of these factors, Mayor Adams has downgraded the drought warning and water-saving measures previously implemented by city agencies. Additionally, last week, Mayor Adams lifted the temporary citywide ban on open flames and fireworks following recent rainfall in the five boroughs.
“Thanks to recent precipitation and melting snowfall upstate, in addition to our decision to pause the Delaware Aqueduct repair project, we’re in a much better place than we were a few weeks ago, allowing us to downgrade our drought warning to a drought watch,” said Mayor Adams. “If conditions continue, we hope that, in the coming weeks, we will be able to rescind the watch as well. However, it’s a good reminder of the kind of world climate change is creating: a world with more extreme weather events and more dangerous impacts. We’ll continue doing everything we can to secure our water supply, guard against the impacts of a warming world, and keep New Yorkers safe.”
“New Yorkers and our fellow city agencies have shown remarkable resilience and commitment to conserving water during these unprecedented conditions. Thanks to significant rainfall, melting snowpack, conservation efforts, and strategic adjustments to our infrastructure projects, we’re able to lift the drought warning,” said New York City Chief Climate Officer and DEP Commissioner Aggarwala. “As we confront a changing climate, we need to use our natural resources more wisely. Continuing to practice water conservation is a sustainable habit valuable even outside times of drought.”
Mayor Adams and Commissioner Aggarwala first issued a drought watch back on November 2, as the city was experiencing the driest spell in recorded history. They upgraded the drought watch to a drought warning on November 18. The historic lack of precipitation led to unprecedented challenges, including brush fires within the city and the watershed. The long-lasting lack of precipitation led DEP to take extraordinary steps to safeguard the city’s water supply.
New York City’s complex reservoir system is extraordinarily robust and was designed for resilience, capable of operating effectively even at below-average levels. In addition to the much-needed recent wet weather in the watershed, an analysis of weather patterns indicate consistent precipitation in the forecast, ensuring reservoir levels will continue to rise. Reopening the Delaware Aqueduct, the world’s longest tunnel of any kind, has allowed DEP to optimize flow with this recent influx of rainwater. With all three reservoir systems — the Delaware, the Croton, and the Catskill — now fully operational, DEP has increased flexibility to meet the city’s water needs.
Read the full announcement here.