Drought warning: Long Island's lack of rain this year leads state to issue alert

Two weeks before the unofficial start of summer — traditionally the season of high water use across Long Island — the state has issued a drought warning for Nassau and Suffolk counties.

"Dry conditions and below-normal precipitation on Long Island have prompted DEC to ... issue a drought warning in Nassau and Suffolk counties," Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton said in a statement on Thursday. "We are encouraging all Long Islanders to practice water conservation to protect the region’s valuable sole source aquifer water supply."   

Both counties had been on a drought watch; a drought warning is the second of four ranks, from watch to warning to emergency to disaster.

The Island has received 4 inches less rain than normal over the past three months and 9 inches less than normal over the past six months, the DEC said on Thursday.

Abnormally low precipitation depletes the groundwater and the surface waters, such as streams and lakes, that are fed by groundwater. 

Long Islanders use on average 140 gallons of water a day, per person, about 55% more than the national average of about 90 gallons, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Last August, during a drought watch, water use did not decline significantly even as the Suffolk County Water Authority pleaded with its customers to conserve water.

A drought warning doesn’t carry mandatory restrictions. But water suppliers are asking residents to take extra care with their water consumption in the coming weeks.

"With Long Island under a drought warning, Suffolk County Water Authority is urging all customers to be mindful of their water use and take the preservation of our water resources seriously," authority spokesman Daniel Dubois wrote to Newsday on Thursday. "Outdoor lawn watering is one of the biggest drivers of demand on our system," he said. Customers should observe the odd/even watering schedule, he added.

Other suppliers encourage residents to use "smart" sprinklers, which monitor the soil for moisture before watering, and observe the ban on watering between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when much of the sprinkler water evaporates before reaching the lawn.