Chester County has been placed under a drought watch, according to the Chester County Water Resources Authority.
On Wednesday, August 10, the Chester County Commissioners were given a presentation on the drought watch by Jan Bowers, executive director of the Authority. The presentation follows a declaration from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announcing drought watch status for 40 counties in Pennsylvania.
Under a drought watch, citizens are asked to voluntarily reduce non-essential water use by five percent. No mandatory water use restrictions are in place. The drought watch was declared on August 8.
Since May 20, 2011, Chester County has received only 4.6 inches of rainfall, less than half of the normal rainfall. Of the 18 groundwater wells monitored in the county, 16 are below normal levels and four are below drought watch levels. Stream flows across the county are also below normal.
Also, since July 15, water supply reservoirs have been making water supply releases to streams to support public water supply in the greater Coatesville, Downingtown and West Chester area.
During the drought watch, county agencies will monitor the situation. Information on drought watch and water conservation can be found at www.chesco.org/water.
