Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
NYC's drought warning is over, but reservoirs still lower than usual
By
Louis C. Hochman
Published Dec 16, 2024
Modified Dec 16, 2024
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images
By
Louis C. Hochman
Published Dec 16, 2024
Modified Dec 16, 2024
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
New York City is no longer under a drought warning.
The announcement by Mayor Eric Adams on Monday ends the city's first drought warning in 22 years. Gov. Kathy Hochul and Adams had announced the warning on Nov. 18, and although New Yorkers were urged to conserve water, no restrictions were put in place.
The city remains under a drought watch, a lesser designation that still indicates lower-than-usual rainfall and water reserves.
"We're in a much better place, really exciting," Adams said at a briefing for reporters Monday. "And if the conditions continue, we hope that in the coming weeks, we'll be able to rescind the watch as well."
The city’s reservoirs in the Catskills and Hudson Valley were at just under 70% capacity Monday, according to city figures. They’d normally be a little more than 80% full, according to the city.
Most of the Hudson Valley was under a drought warning in recent days, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation. That area now remains under a drought watch as well.
Adams' announcement runs contrary to a statement from the city Department of Environmental Protection, which told Gothamist last week the city would need to see historic levels of rainfall — 10-11 inches — hit its reservoirs in December to get out from under the drought warning. So far, about 2.5 inches of rain have reached the reservoirs in December, up from the approximate 1.75 inches typical for this time in the month. A message to the department Monday seeking clarification wasn't immediately returned.
But Adams, in a statement from City Hall, said the recent rain had "significantly replenished reservoir levels, decreasing the risk of a water shortage."
The City Council's Committee on Environmental Protection, Resiliency and Waterfronts had planned an oversight hearing on the state of the drought for Tuesday.
December has been rainier than usual, but the city is still struggling to make up for a deficit of precipitation from August through October that contributed to brush fires throughout New York and New Jersey. The city recently lifted a ban on open flames and fireworks, but Central Park and Prospect Park had already both called off their annual New Year's Eve fireworks, with Prospect Park planning a drone light show in its place.
The city also recently paused a repair of the Delaware Aqueduct in the Catskills so that officials could reopen access to that water supply. Adams said that and the recent increase in rainfall, as well as snow in some parts of the state, have helped. In his statement, Adams said officials hope work on that project could resume next fall.
The city still urges New Yorkers to continue conserving water, including by avoiding flushing toilets unnecessarily, taking shorter showers, running dishwashers only when they're full and avoiding leaving water running when brushing teeth or shaving.
This story has been updated with more information about the city's Delaware Aqueduct project.
Tagged
new york city
Health and Science
Louis C. Hochman
After about two decades in (mostly) New Jersey-focused commercial print, digital and digital-but-radio-adjacent news, Lou stumbled into member-supported news in early 2021, as the editor and CEO of Montclair Local. There, he (hopes he) expanded enterprise, brought more sophistication to digital storytelling and moved the nonprofit newsroom closer to long-term financial sustainability. He helped lead the Local to its fourth consecutive General Excellence award from the New Jersey Press Association — the NJPA's highest honor with judges noting the paper's work to strip away layers of government opacity, to hold power to account, to make news accessible for more members of the community, to share the stories and concerns of more facets of the community and to tell compelling stories across multiple media. He's excited to continue the same ethic — news as a public service — at NYPR as the New Jersey and suburbs editor, drawing on the extraordinary talents of reporters including Karen Yi and Nancy Solomon. Lou lives in Philly (that commute!) with his partner and their two cats, about whom and about which he speaks incessantly.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
A big, bright Saturn will be the highlight of NYC's fall stargazing season
Stargazers will have a great view of Saturn and two meteor showers in October.
By
Rosemary Misdary
Published Oct 3, 2026 at 6:00 a.m. ET
NYC tow companies busted for ripping off drivers must give $67K in refunds, city says
Mayor Mamdani has expanded enforcement on towing scams, but the unlicensed towing industry remains largely unregulated.
By
Liam Quigley
News
NYC tow companies busted for ripping off drivers must give $67K in refunds, city says
Mayor Mamdani has expanded enforcement on towing scams, but the unlicensed towing industry remains largely unregulated.
By
Liam Quigley
Off-duty NYPD officer stabbed in the Bronx, police say
By
Ryan Kost
DOC negligence factored in death at Rikers' Bellevue hospital outpost, jail officials say
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Conductor on NYC subway that dragged man to death may have skipped safety check, source says
By
Stephen Nessen
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .