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Pennsylvania residents in 36 counties, including Philadelphia, Bucks, Delaware and Montgomery, are being asked to conserve water during a drought watch. State officials people only to run water when necessary.

Philadelphia residents should cut their water usage by 3 to 6 gallons each day until a newly-declared drought watch is lifted, Pennsylvania officials say.

The same recommendations applies to people in Bucks, Delaware and Montgomery Counties. They're among 36 counties that have been placed under a drought watch by the Department of Environmental Protection due to dry conditions.  

"We're asking Pennsylvanians in all of these counties to use water wisely and follow simple water conservation tips to ease the demand for water," DEP acting Secretary Ramez Ziadeh said.

Here's how people can reduce their water usage, per DEP:

DEP determines drought conditions by monitoring four indicators – precipitation, surface water flow from rivers and streams, groundwater level and soil moisture. 

The intensity of a drought is defined by a classification scale that ranges from abnormally dry to exceptional drought. 

Most of Philadelphia and parts of Bucks, Delaware and Montgomery counties are abnormally dry, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The rest of Bucks County is in a moderate drought. 

DEP Declares Drought Watch for 36 Counties, Asks for Voluntary Water Conservation: https://t.co/QeZzwAFCcn pic.twitter.com/RIOelVkXGc

When conditions are abnormally dry, crop growth becomes stunted, lawns brown, surface levels drop and the risk of wildfires rises. In moderate drought conditions, trees and landscaping becomes stressed, hay and grain yields drop, the use of irrigation increases, and reservoir and lake levels drop below normal capacity. 

Two public water suppliers in Potter and Lycoming counties are requiring their customers conserve water. Another six suppliers, mostly in Central Pennsylvania, are asking customers to voluntarily reduce their water usage. 

Last month, New Jersey issued a statewide drought watch and asked residents to conserve water. As of Tuesday, 95% of the state was abnormally dry – or worse, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. In South Jersey, portions of Burlington and Gloucester counties were experiencing moderate drought conditions. At the shore, all of Cape May County was under severe drought conditions.

Brian A. Saunders PhillyVoice Staff

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