New Jersey's Drought Woes Grow Worse
By Peak Johnson
Drought conditions in parts of the world not normally thought of as arid continue to worsen. For example, in northern and central sections of New Jersey, drought conditions persist due to lack of rain.
The state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) reported that 12 northern New Jersey reservoirs are currently operating at 52 percent of their full capacity of 70.6 billion gallons of water, according to NJ.com.
"The situation is not getting any better," DEP spokesman Larry Hajna said in early November. "We had some helpful rain earlier this week, but we really need to have multiple periods of sustained rainfall to reverse the trend."
NJ.com reported that the shortfall of rain during the past three months, in addition to several heat waves in the summer, “has adversely affected stream flows, shallow groundwater reserves and runoff into reservoirs that provide drinking water for millions of New Jersey residents.”
But what can be done about the lasting crisis of drought stricken counties? According to the Environmental Defense Fund, a new technology called floatovoltaics brings some hope. Solar panels floating on ponds and other bodies of water have been received well in California, New Jersey, and even countries as far as England.
These panels can also reduce evaporation, a strong concern in areas that are suffering from water shortages. In return, “the water keeps the panels cool, which makes them more efficient.”
In Jersey, Hajna said that there are ways that residents can assist in conserving water. Some simple steps include “taking shorter showers, fixing leaky faucets or toilets, making sure dishwashers and washing machines are fully loaded, and making sure timers on lawn sprinklers are turned off.”
To read more about drought issues visit Water Online’s Water Scarcity Solutions Center.