The cities of Gaithersburg and Rockville have asked residents and businesses to conserve water under a regional drought watch issued earlier in the week by the Drought Coordination Committee of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.
The metropolitan Washington region, which contains nearly six million people, has been experiencing unusually dry conditions, according to COG. The drought watch was declared following the committee’s regional drought response plan.
Per the City of Rockville, “Officials are closely monitoring drought conditions in the region, COG Executive Director Clark Mercer said. “With a few simple measures, we can all aid in water conservation efforts and help ensure an adequate water supply for our region,” he said.
Over the past two months, the region has experienced record-breaking high temperatures, along with some periods of historically low streamflow and groundwater levels. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Prediction Center has declared that 95% of the Potomac River Basin is experiencing abnormal to extreme drought and precipitation levels have dropped almost 4 inches below normal in the past 60 days.
While an adequate supply of water exists in the Potomac River and backup reservoirs, implementing voluntary water conservation practices across the region will help complement measures already in place, and reduce water demand and environmental needs of the Potomac River, COG stated in a news release.”
A drought watch calls for voluntary water conservation measures, but worsening conditions could lead to a drought warning with water restrictions.