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COMMUNITY OP-ED NOVEMBER 22, 2024 | The Indian Eye 8

Drought Management in NYC:

How New Yorkers can help

by conserving water

New York City is justifiably proud of our water system, and we are determined to protect

one of our most precious resources

ERIC ADAMS

ew York City is not often
associated with the kind of
Ndrought we see in other areas
of the country, but this fall has been
a stunning exception. This past Octo-
ber saw the second-longest rainless
streak in city records, dating back
155 years, to 1869. With November
continuing to be warmer and drier
as well, we have issued a citywide
drought watch and are urging New
Yorkers to conserve water wherever most precious resources. All of us
who rely on the city’s water supply,
possible. including 8.3 million consumers in
Every New Yorker can help by
taking shorter showers and doing the city and another 1.5 million up-
state, must make concerted efforts
fewer loads of laundry, but there to conserve water, especially during
are many other simple and effective these extended dry periods.
ways to conserve water in our city. We’re going to do our part as a
An open faucet uses two to
three gallons of water per minute, city as well, requiring our city agen-
cies to update their water conserva-
so there’s no need to run the faucet
while you’re shaving, washing your tion plans and implement them as
quickly as possible.
hands, or brushing your teeth. By pulling together and saving
A leaky faucet that drips at the
rate of one drip per second can waste water, we can do even better by our
city — slowing the depletion rate of
more than 3,000 gallons per year, so sarily. According to the Environmen- Report any open fire hydrants city reservoirs and avoiding a more
fix those leaks, if possible. You can tal Protection Agency, toilets are, by and street leaks to 311. An open hy- serious drought that would require
also save even more water by install- far, the main source of water use in a drant can release more than 1,000 further restrictions in the future.
ing water-saving fixtures like low- home, accounting for nearly 30 per- gallons per minute, which wastes 1.4 Let’s work together to save wa-
flow toilets and showerheads, as well cent of an average home’s indoor wa- million gallons of drinking water in a ter, and when the rain does return,
as faucet aerators. ter consumption. Each flush can use 24-hour cycle. try to remember where you left your
Run the dishwasher and washing 1.6 gallons, with older models using For even more ideas, visit DEP’s
machine only when full. Use short as much as 6 gallons. Water Savings Tips website. umbrella.
cycles if available. Turn off the water Sweep driveways and sidewalks New York City is justifiably
while washing dishes. clean rather than washing them proud of our water system, and we Eric Adams is the Mayor of
Don’t flush the toilet unneces- down with a hose. are determined to protect one of our New York City, NY

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