1 1 Pennsylvania’s Drought Update January 28, 2002

2 2 Drought ’02 Will There Be Enough Water for Everyone?

3 Drought  Condition resulting primarily from lack of precipitation (or recharge) such that water resources are not adequate to meet demands

4 How Do We Know We Are Having a Drought?  Precipitation  Stream flow  Groundwater levels  Palmer drought index  Reservoir levels  Precipitation  Stream flow  Groundwater levels  Palmer drought index  Reservoir levels

5 Precipitation Gages 437 Total Sites State-wide (226 Automated)

6 Stream Flow Gages 237 gages in state, 59 used for drought monitoring

7 Monitoring Wells 67 observation wells state-wide 40 used to make drought monitoring decisions

8 Palmer Drought Index Regions Compiled weekly by the National Weather Service

9 Reservoir Levels Storage in several large public water supply reservoirs are used for drought monitoring.

10 Drought Triggers WatchWarningEmergency Precipitation Deficits (12 month drought duration) 15% (deficit) of normal precipitation 25% (deficit) of normal precipitation 35% (deficit) of normal precipitation Stream Flows 30-day average flow exceeded 75% of the time 30-day average flow exceeded 90% of the time 30-day average flow exceeded 95% of the time Groundwater Levels 30-day average groundwater levels exceeded 75% of the time 30-day average groundwater levels exceeded 90% of the time 30-day average groundwater levels exceeded 95% of the time Soil Moisture- Palmer Drought Severity Index Values of –2.00 to –2.99 Values of –3.00 to –3.99 Values of –4 or less

11 Levels of Drought Watch Voluntary reduction by 5% to 10% Warning Voluntary reduction by 10% to 15% Emergency Non-essential water use restrictions

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13 90-day Precipitation Map

14 Stream Flows

15 Groundwater Levels

16 Palmer Index

17 New York City Reservoirs Total Reservoir Storage January 15, 2002 (Percentage of Capacity) 168 billion gallons less than last year at this time

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19 Water Supplies in Trouble  29-Voluntary Water Use Restrictions  42- Mandatory Water Use Restrictions  25 Counties affected  29-Voluntary Water Use Restrictions  42- Mandatory Water Use Restrictions  25 Counties affected

20 Status of Other States

21 Upgraded to warning 1/18/02 Upgraded to watch 1/18/02

22 Watch Normal Watch Maryland

23 Watch Warning Watch Warning

24 For Immediate Release December 18, 2001 DROUGHT EMERGENCY DECLARED IN THE DELAWARE RIVER BASIN (WEST TRENTON, N.J.) - With reservoir storage and ground water supplies well below seasonable averages, the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) today declared a drought emergency in the 13,539 square-mile watershed which drains portions of New York State, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.

25 DEP Drought Coordination  DEP coordinates with the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) and the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC)- interstate-federal agencies responsible for managing the water resources within the Delaware and Susquehanna River watersheds

26 How Bad is It? ’98-’99 vs ’01-’02

27 ’98-’99 Drought (in current drought warning area)  We entered the summer of ’98 with normal to above normal stream and well levels  Precipitation dropped off from July ’98 through December ’98  Significant precipitation occurred statewide in January ’99.  It took two hurricanes (Dennis and Floyd) in September ’99 to raise stream and well levels  We entered the summer of ’98 with normal to above normal stream and well levels  Precipitation dropped off from July ’98 through December ’98  Significant precipitation occurred statewide in January ’99.  It took two hurricanes (Dennis and Floyd) in September ’99 to raise stream and well levels

28 ’01-’02 (in current drought warning area)  We have had below normal precipitation since October 2000  Groundwater and stream levels have been below normal since about June  Gages currently show below normal precipitation, stream and well levels in a season with frozen ground conditions and lower recharge potential  We have had below normal precipitation since October 2000  Groundwater and stream levels have been below normal since about June  Gages currently show below normal precipitation, stream and well levels in a season with frozen ground conditions and lower recharge potential

29 Example of Trends in Cumberland County Precipitation Stream Levels Well Levels JFMAMJJASOND 1998 Normal or above Below normal

30 Example of Trends in Cumberland County Precipitation Stream Levels Well Levels JFMAMJJASOND 2001 Normal or above Below normal

31 Long-range Forecast

32 How Do We Manage a Drought?  Governor Declares an Emergency on a County by County Basis  PEMA drought management regulations activated banning non- essential water use  Governor Declares an Emergency on a County by County Basis  PEMA drought management regulations activated banning non- essential water use  Watch  Warning  Emergency

33 Overview of Drought Management Regulations  Revised regulations effective July 7, 2001  Focus on planning and not reacting  Recognizes advances in technology  Reflects lessons learned during drought emergency of ’98 & ‘99  Revised regulations effective July 7, 2001  Focus on planning and not reacting  Recognizes advances in technology  Reflects lessons learned during drought emergency of ’98 & ‘99

34 Regulations Addressing Drought Management

35 CHAPTER 118. REDUCTIONS OF MAJOR WATER USE IN A COMMONWEALTH DROUGHT EMERGENCY AREA CHAPTER 119. PROHIBITION OF NONESSENTIAL WATER USES IN A COMMONWEALTH DROUGHT EMERGENCY AREA CHAPTER 120. LOCAL WATER RATIONING PLANS

36 Chapter 118  Provides for preparation and implementation of drought contingency plans by: –Public water supplies (>50 connections) –Major commercial water users –Major industrial water users  Provides for preparation and implementation of drought contingency plans by: –Public water supplies (>50 connections) –Major commercial water users –Major industrial water users

37 Drought Contingency Plan Submission  Any time  As directed by Governor’s emergency proclamation  As ordered by Commonwealth Drought Coordinator (CDC)  Any time  As directed by Governor’s emergency proclamation  As ordered by Commonwealth Drought Coordinator (CDC)

38 Public Water Supply Drought Contingency Plan Elements:  Analysis of water availability and water use over the last 12 month period  Description of trigger levels  Plan of action  Variance procedures  Desirable to have plan implemented at all times  Analysis of water availability and water use over the last 12 month period  Description of trigger levels  Plan of action  Variance procedures  Desirable to have plan implemented at all times

39 Self-supplied Commercial and Industrial Water Users Contingency Plans  Users of water greater than 100,000 gallons per day (gpd) –Develop, adopt and make plans available  Users of water greater than 500,000 gpd –Develop, adopt and submit plans to CDC  Other water users upon order from CDC  Users of water greater than 100,000 gallons per day (gpd) –Develop, adopt and make plans available  Users of water greater than 500,000 gpd –Develop, adopt and submit plans to CDC  Other water users upon order from CDC

40 Commercial and Industrial Drought Contingency Plan Elements:  Analysis of water availability and water use over past 12 months

41 Commercial and Industrial Drought Contingency Plan Elements:  Description of previously undertaken water conservation measures

42 Commercial and Industrial Drought Contingency Plan Elements:  Plan of actions based on 5%, 15%, 25%, 35% and 50% reduction in water use

43 Commercial and Industrial Contingency Plan Implementation  As ordered by CDC  Significant drought required to prompt implementation order  As directed in a Governor’s emergency proclamation  As ordered by CDC  Significant drought required to prompt implementation order  As directed in a Governor’s emergency proclamation

44 County Drought Management Task Force  Established by County Commissioners within time frame specified in Governor’s Emergency Proclamation  Coordinates and monitors all drought reporting and water conservation measures undertaken in the county  Reports monthly to CDC  Established by County Commissioners within time frame specified in Governor’s Emergency Proclamation  Coordinates and monitors all drought reporting and water conservation measures undertaken in the county  Reports monthly to CDC

45 Chapter 119  Restricts non-essential water uses in response to a drought or water shortage emergency declared by the Governor

46 Prohibition of Non-essential Water Uses  Watering grass  Athletic fields (except under approved plan)  Gardens and Landscaping  Golf Courses (except under approved plan)  Watering grass  Athletic fields (except under approved plan)  Gardens and Landscaping  Golf Courses (except under approved plan)  Paved surfaces  Ornamental uses  Mobile equipment  Serving in restaurants (unless requested)  Swimming pools  Specific fire hydrant uses  Use of any water not for a beneficial use  Paved surfaces  Ornamental uses  Mobile equipment  Serving in restaurants (unless requested)  Swimming pools  Specific fire hydrant uses  Use of any water not for a beneficial use

47 Exceptions Each prohibition has associated limited exceptions listed in Chapter 119 (for example-watering athletic fields is allowable under an approved plan).

48 Exemptions and Variances  Water user must demonstrate extraordinary hardship  Public water suppliers must demonstrate adequate water supply and follow an approved drought contingency plan  Water user must demonstrate extraordinary hardship  Public water suppliers must demonstrate adequate water supply and follow an approved drought contingency plan

49 Exemptions and Variances  CDC makes a decision within 7 working days (one day if perishable products are involved)  Areawide exemptions or variances for similar situated water users possible  Decisions may be appealed to PEMA  CDC makes a decision within 7 working days (one day if perishable products are involved)  Areawide exemptions or variances for similar situated water users possible  Decisions may be appealed to PEMA

50 Chapter 120  Establishes procedures for the CDC to review and approve local water rationing plans in response to severe local water shortages. Such plans can be approved only under the authority of a declared emergency.

51 Typical Water Rationing Plan Content  Prohibition of non-essential water use  Equitable rationing provisions (% reduction, or assigned customer allocations)  Variance and exemption provisions to address extraordinary hardships  Prohibition of non-essential water use  Equitable rationing provisions (% reduction, or assigned customer allocations)  Variance and exemption provisions to address extraordinary hardships

52 Implementation of Local Water Rationing Plan  By application to the CDC, who must approve the local rationing plan  At the direction of the CDC  By application to the CDC, who must approve the local rationing plan  At the direction of the CDC

53 Additional Water Rationing Provisions  Enforced at the local level  Service interruptions are authorized  Excess use charges are authorized –Maximum of 5 times the actual rate for first 2,000 gallons and 10 times actual rate for each 1,000 gallons or portion thereof  Enforced at the local level  Service interruptions are authorized  Excess use charges are authorized –Maximum of 5 times the actual rate for first 2,000 gallons and 10 times actual rate for each 1,000 gallons or portion thereof

54 Additional Water Rationing Provisions  Customer service interruptions used –Individual flow restrictions and termination of water service to individual customers is authorized  Customer service interruptions used –Individual flow restrictions and termination of water service to individual customers is authorized

55 Drought ’02 Will There Be Enough Water for Everyone?  We don’t know We need to be prepared

56 What Else Is DEP Doing to Manage Water Resources?  Supporting passage of Water Resources Conservation and Protection Legislation  Proposing a new Comprehensive Stormwater Management Policy  Supporting passage of Water Resources Conservation and Protection Legislation  Proposing a new Comprehensive Stormwater Management Policy

57 Major Elements of Proposed Water Resources Legislation  Update State Water Plan  Identify Critical Water Planning Areas  Encourage locally developed Integrated Water Resource Plans  Update State Water Plan  Identify Critical Water Planning Areas  Encourage locally developed Integrated Water Resource Plans  Establish water use reduction and water conservation incentives  Establish water well construction requirements  Establish water use reduction and water conservation incentives  Establish water well construction requirements

58 Major Elements of Updated Stormwater Management Policy  Encourage infiltration of stormwater  Implement federal regulations  Achieve administrative efficiencies within DEP  Encourage infiltration of stormwater  Implement federal regulations  Achieve administrative efficiencies within DEP

59 We Are All Sharing a Limited Resource - Water

60 Let’s Use It Wisely