It was essential in July to conserve water immediately. Water consumption was cut by as much as 35 percent in some areas. Pennsylvanians work to conserve our water and the rains Hurricane Floyd and other storms brought to Pennsylvania helped get us through the drought. We don t want to impose these restrictions one day longer than we must. So today, I m pleased to announce that I am lifting these water restrictions for 54 counties.
Somerset County remains in drought-emergency status.
On July 20, Gov. Ridge declared a drought emergency in 55 counties. The agricultural drought emergency stays in place statewide for any area where farmers have significant crop damage. And we can t forget those who were so badly hurt by it. After the Governor signed the proclamation today, he directed Department of Environmental Protection Secretary James M. Seif to move 27 counties into a drought warning and 39 counties into a watch. A drought watch is the first and least severe of the three drought declarations under the state's drought-operating plan.