Pennsylvania Issues Drought Watch for Some Regions

The state Department of Environmental Protection issued a drought watch today for 29 counties in western and central Pennsylvania.

"The commonwealth has received below-normal precipitation over the past two to three months," leaving some areas with rainfall deficits of as much as five inches, said acting DEP Secretary John Hanger. "Recent rainfalls have not been enough to bring streamflow and groundwater levels back to normal.

A drought watch declaration is the first level -- and least severe -- of the state's three drought classifications. It calls for a voluntary 5 percent reduction in non-essential water use.

DEP suggests homeowners check for household leaks, take short showers instead of baths, run dishwashers and washing machines only with full loads and keep water in a refrigerator to avoid running water from a faucet until it is cold.

The watch area includes Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Greene, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lycoming, McKean, Mercer, Potter, Somerset, Tioga, Venango, Warren, Washington and Westmoreland counties.