A Message from Mark McDonough, President of New Jersey American Water

Following the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJ DEP)’s declaration of a Statewide Drought Warning today, New Jersey American Water has issued a mandatory conservation notice for all customers across the state. The company requests that customers limit all nonessential water usage by pausing all outdoor watering until spring and conserving as much as possible indoors.Customers are being notified of this action today through the company’s emergency notification system.

We are dedicated to responsible water management and are prepared to support Governor Murphy and the NJ DEP’s action to move New Jersey to Drought Warning status. Our customers can trust that we are closely tracking water conditions and are prepared to take additional measures to support statewide water preservation efforts. However, it is critical for everyone to work together and conserve water now.

In mid-October, the NJ DEP issued a Drought Watch following a prolonged period of low precipitation. The Watch was upgraded to a Warning as of November 13, following a public hearing to gauge the severity of water supply concerns.

As a result of this public hearing and escalation, New Jersey American Water is urging customers to limit all non-essential water use and providing the following guidelines:

Outdoor Conservation Guidelines:

• Pause all outdoor watering. Plants require less water in the fall, so allow them to go dormant for the season, and postpone water-intensive landscaping until spring.
• Winterize your irrigation system. Turn off and drain sprinkler systems, outdoor spigots, and hoses.
• Sweep, don’t spray. Use a broom instead of a hose or pressure washer to clear leaves and debris from sidewalks or pavement.
• Use a commercial car wash that recycles water, instead of washing your car at home.

  Indoor Conservation Guidelines:

• Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, shaving, or washing dishes in the sink.
• Run dishwashers and clothes washers only when full. If you have a water-saver cycle, use it.
• Take shorter showers. Try to shower in five minutes or less.
• Be a leak detective. Find and fix leaks and breaks in hoses, sprinkler systems, pipes and toilets. For help, download New Jersey American Water’s Leak Detection Kit at newjerseyamwater.com under Water Information.
• Insulate exposed water pipes with pre-slit foam insulation to maintain warmth and avoid wasting water while it heats up.
• Consider water and energy-efficient appliances. Products and services that have earned the US EPA WaterSense label have been certified to be at least 20 percent more efficient without sacrificing performance.

These small but impactful actions are designed to help alleviate stress on water sources and infrastructure. Together, we can make a difference and support the sustainability of our water resources.

New Jersey American Water has been closely monitoring supply levels in coordination with operation centers across its system. The company does not anticipate a major threat to its water supply and is leveraging redundancies to shift between water sources to provide uninterrupted water service at this time. The DEP’s Drought warning designation and New Jersey American Water’s Mandatory Water Conservation Notice prioritize preserving available water supplies to avert a more serious water shortage.

New Jersey American Water customers can monitor their water usage and find ways to use water more wisely online through their MyWater account. More indoor and outdoor water-saving tips can be found on New Jersey American Water’s website at newjerseyamwater.com/conservation and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Water Conservation Website.

It is important to note that while New Jersey American Water issued a mandatory conservation notice for our customers to emphasize the severity of the drought and to support to NJDEP’s escalation to Drought Warning, we cannot enforce conservation measures.

As community leaders, I want to also ask that you share this information with your constituents on your website, email newsletters and social media channels. We will be posting the below graphics and wise water tips on our social media pages @njamwater. The NJ DEP also has a Drought Outreach Toolkit that can be used.

If you have any questions, please reach out to me or your local contact.

Thank you for your cooperation.