Pennsylvania American Water asks customers to reduce their water use
Pennsylvania American Water is asking additional customers to voluntarily conserve water after the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection issued a drought watch.
After asking Butler County customers to reduce consumption in September due to little rainfall and low water levels in reservoirs, Pennsylvania American is now asking customers in Beaver, Butler, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Schuylkill, Warren and Washington counties to do the same.
The DEP issued a drought watch Oct. 6 for Beaver, Bradford, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lycoming, McKean, Mercer, Potter, Schuylkill, Somerset, Tioga, Venango, Warren and Washington counties.
Under the drought watch, which is the least-severe of four levels of drought declarations, the DEP said residents are encouraged, but not required, to voluntarily reduce their water use by 5% to 10%. Drought declarations are based on four factors: precipitation, stream flows, groundwater levels and soil moisture, according to the DEP.
Pennsylvania American is asking residents and businesses to reduce their nonessential water use by 10 to 15%, a reduction of about 11 to 16 gallons per day.
