New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy issued a drought warning on Wednesday, cautioning that mandatory water restrictions could follow if conditions worsen. The state is experiencing its driest spell in nearly 120 years, contributing to a surge in wildfires. Since October, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service has responded to 537 fires, a sharp increase from 37 during the same period last year, with thousands of acres burned.
Murphy urged residents to voluntarily conserve water, emphasizing collective responsibility. “Every one of us needs to do everything we can to conserve water,” he said.
However, Tim Eustace, executive director of the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission, criticized the state’s response, advocating for a drought emergency declaration, which would enforce restrictions on nonessential water use. “Using drinking water to water lawns is a crazy waste of resources,” he said. The Wanaque Reservoir, serving about one-third of the state, was at just 45% capacity, while the Manasquan Reservoir stood at 51%. The Passaic River, which supplies drinking water, was at only 14% of normal levels but can still meet demand.
New Jersey American Water, supplying 2.9 million residents, issued a conservation notice urging customers to reduce water usage voluntarily. Company president Mark McDonough stressed the importance of collective action, stating, “We can have a tremendous impact if we get our customers focused on conserving water,” though the company lacks enforcement authority.
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