New York faces driest October in 150 years, mayor urges water conservation
New York City Mayor Mike Adams on Saturday highlighted the impact of drought and urged residents to conserve water. In Central Park, only 0.01 inches of rain fell throughout October.
According to the National Weather Service, October typically brings about 4.4 inches of rain to New York. Rohit Aggarwala, the city's Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner, noted that this October was the driest in over 150 years.
Adams encouraged New Yorkers to take shorter showers and fix leaking faucets. He advised turning off taps while brushing teeth and suggested sweeping sidewalks instead of using a hose. He also urged residents to report open hydrants and other street leaks to prevent a more severe water shortage in the US's most populous city.
"Mother Nature is in charge, so we must adapt," the mayor stated. He directed city agencies to prepare to implement water-saving measures.
Water consumption in New York
New York City uses an average of 1.1 billion gallons of water daily, which is about 35 percent less than in 1979, partly due to more effective leak detection.
A significant challenge in managing water resources is repairing a large, leaking aqueduct that transports water to the city from the Catskill region, causing residents to rely more heavily on reservoirs in the northern suburbs. Last month, only 0.8 inches of rain fell there, roughly one-fifth of the October average.
