Drought warning lifted in 2 counties, ending N.J. water woes.
New Jersey’s year-long drought woes officially came to an end on Tuesday as the state’s top environmental official lifted the drought warnings that had been active in Somerset and Hunterdon counties.
Those were the only counties across the state that continued to struggle with low stream flows and below-normal reservoir levels four months ago, when the state Department of Environmental Protection ended a series of drought warnings and watches in other counties.
The decision was announced by DEP Commissioner Bob Martin, who commended New Jersey’s residents for helping to conserve water.
"But I am still urging residents to use this precious resource wisely.”
Mother Nature also helped reverse the water woes in Somerset and Hunterdon, as an increase in rainfall during the past few months boosted the storage capacity of two large reservoirs that supply drinking water to 1.5 million homes and businesses in central New Jersey: Round Valley and Spruce Run.
Those reservoirs currently have a combined capacity of 81 percent, which is about 10 percent below average for mid-August but far higher than the low of 59.7 percent in November 2016, the DEP said.
Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com.
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