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New York City lifts drought watch after historic dry spell
By
Elizabeth Kim
Published Jan 3, 2025
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Spencer Platt/Getty Images
By
Elizabeth Kim
Published Jan 3, 2025
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Mayor Eric Adams announced Friday that New York City is no longer under a drought watch, ending a two-month period during which residents were urged to conserve water amid a historic shortage of rainfall.
The move was prompted by “above-average precipitation” over the last two months, the mayor said in a statement. November and December brought rain and snowfall at levels 20% above average in the areas that feed the city’s water supply, according to city data.
“By working together and heeding officials’ advice, we were able to avoid a much more serious drought emergency,” Adams said. “The work of New Yorkers in conserving water these past two months has paid off, and now we can end this historic drought.”
City officials first issued a drought watch on Nov. 2. Several weeks later, they elevated the designation to a drought warning, marking the city’s first such declaration in 22 years. As part of that announcement, the city halted repair work on the Delaware aqueduct, a tunnel that brings water to the city through the Catskills, so it could reopen to provide New Yorkers with much-needed water. That project is now expected to resume in the fall, city officials said.
The city blamed the exceptionally dry conditions for causing hundreds of brush fires, including one in November at Brooklyn’s Prospect Park that burned across two acres. Shortly after, the FDNY announced the city’s first brush fire task force. Outdoor grilling and fireworks in city parks were temporarily banned.
Although city agencies have been implementing water-saving measures, the drought never resulted in forced restrictions for the public. New Yorkers were advised to save water with time-honored tips, such as taking shorter showers and reporting open hydrants.
The plea to save water harkened to previous campaigns. A 1980 public service ad featuring former Mayor Ed Koch and schoolchildren received 6 million views on X after a journalist posted the video.
City officials promoted the old video as “timeless tips.” They also created a new version featuring Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos.
Tagged
new york city
climate
eric adams
Elizabeth Kim
Elizabeth Kim is a reporter on the People and Power desk who covers mayoral power. She previously covered the pandemic, housing, redevelopment and public spaces. A native of Queens, she speaks fluent Mandarin. Got a tip? Email [email protected]
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