A drought emergency is the third and most severe stage of drought declarations and imposes mandatory restrictions called by the governor. A state drought emergency declares a ban on all nonessential water use and applies to residents using public water systems, private water companies and private wells. Mandatory water restrictions are enforced to forestall the need for water rationing. With currently 55 of the state s 67 counties under drought emergency, water conservation should be a vital daily practice of every Pennsylvanian. The average person uses about 50 gallons of water per day and thinks nothing of having water at the twist of a faucet.
Water conservation can help halt wasteful habits.
A family of four taking 15 minute showers every day for a year could fill a public pool with their drain water. Reducing a shower by three minutes can save over 18 gallons of water. The average person drinks only one and a half gallons of water per day, yet a runaway bathroom tap wastes twice that much. Other simple tips include keeping a container of ice-cold water in the refrigerator instead of letting a faucet run until the water is cold enough to drink. This can save 2 gallons per drink.