Take shorter showers, flush the toilet less often, only run the dishwasher if it's full… In a city where New Yorkers use more than 3 billion liters of water per day, the authorities encourage residents to reduce their consumption. Because the State must fight against a series of fires and is facing a particularly long period of drought which is putting water reserves to the test. Currently on drought alert, the American megalopolis is also considering imposing mandatory restrictions if high temperatures persist and rain forecasts remain low, according to the New York Times. Franceinfo explains why New Yorkers are encouraged to save water.
Because the region is fighting against fires
The New York region is facing a series of fires of rare intensity. The states of New York and New Jersey, currently on red alert, are battling fires that have burned thousands of hectares around the Jennings Creek forest river, an hour's drive from Manhattan's skyscrapers. Driven by winds, 370 forest fires were recorded in New Jersey between the middle of September and the end of October. This is ten times more than last year, according to the New York Times.
The flames even approached the heart of the megacity. On Wednesday, firefighters also battled a large brush fire in the large Inwood Hill park, far north of Manhattan, reports ABC. Five days earlier, USA Today described a similar scenario in Prospect Park in Brooklyn. These fires, which suck moisture from the atmosphere and the ground, have a direct impact on water reserves.
Because the current drought is unprecedented
New York is going through the second longest period of drought recorded since 1869, city hall reports in a press release. “It has been more than 20 years since we have measured such an episode (…) in the northeast of the United States”confirms climatologist Brian Fuchs, interviewed by AFP. While the National Weather Service usually records 4.5 inches of rain in Central Park in October, precipitation only reached 0.02 inches, the Associated Press reported in early November. Worrying measures for New York, supplied with water by water reservoirs around the region, which reached 62% of their capacity on November 13 (compared to 79.2% in normal times).
After twenty-nine days without precipitation according to the American channel CBS, this “minimum intake” does not fully fill the city's water reserves, New York Environmental Protection Commissioner Rohit Aggarwala told the New York Times. “Overall, our reservoirs are at about two-thirds capacity, about 10% less than expected at this time of year.”the commissioner told CBS. In response to this situation, Eric Adams, the mayor of New York, issued a city-wide drought alert in early November. A first since 2001.
Because the authorities want to anticipate
For climatologist Brian Fuchs, the drought episode is not totally unusual in the northeastern United States. “But temperatures are higher because of climate change. And they can contribute to droughts that we didn't see in the past.”he explained to AFP. “We are moving more and more quickly from very wet to very dry periods, and vice versa.”
Fear of a long-term shortage is another reason for the call to reduce consumption. “By starting to save water now, we are doing everything we can to ensure we can water our parks and fill our swimming pools next summer, and to avoid a more severe drought.”declared the mayor of New York in a video published on social networks before adding: “Mother Nature is in charge, so we must adapt our behavior.”
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy also anticipated a “very dry winter” during a press conference. The City of New York has assured that it will put in place measures to respond to future climate issues. Zach Iscol, head of New York's emergency management department, notably announced that he was already working on a plan to safeguard resources. “We all have a role to play in conserving our city’s water, one of our most precious resources”he announced in the press release published by the city.
