Jefferson Township Urges Voluntary Water Restrictions Amid NJ Drought Warning

JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP, NJ — Jefferson Township is asking residents to follow voluntary water restrictions, effective Thursday, after officials noticed a significant increase in water usage amid an ongoing statewide drought warning.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's water supply status remains in a warning status, with the DEP commissioner issuing an order urging the public to voluntarily use water sparingly. Under a warning, the DEP may also issue orders to water purveyors to manage supplies in the most affected regions.

The township is recommending the following voluntary restrictions:

• Seasonal odd-even schedule: Properties with even-numbered street addresses may water on even-numbered dates; properties with odd-numbered addresses may water on odd-numbered dates.

• Restricted time windows: Outdoor watering, especially lawn sprinkling, is limited to early morning or evening hours — between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. and between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. — to avoid peak midday evaporation.

• No watering on the 31st: No outdoor watering on the 31st day of any month.

The statewide Drought Warning was declared Dec. 5 after more than a year of below-average precipitation and deteriorating reservoir, streamflow and groundwater conditions. Last month, state officials urged the public to keep conserving as the warning carried into the warmer months, when demand for water for lawns, landscaping and gardening rises across New Jersey.

"New Jersey is experiencing a chronic water supply drought, the scale of which we haven't seen in more than twenty years," State Geologist Steven Domber said in the May announcement. Gov. Mikie Sherrill said that despite some relief over the winter, the state is still feeling the effects of nearly two years of below-normal precipitation.

Reservoir levels in North Jersey have rebounded significantly since the warning was declared. Combined storage across the Northeast region's reservoirs — including the Wanaque, Monksville, Oradell and Jersey City systems — stood at about 91 percent of capacity as of June 8, according to DEP data, recovering from a low near 47 percent in November. Storage remains slightly below the historical average of roughly 95 percent for early June, however, and the DEP says broader water supply indicators, despite wet weather over Memorial Day weekend, remain significantly below norms heading into the high-demand summer months.

The DEP uses a four-tiered system for water supply conditions: Normal, Watch, Warning and Emergency. If conditions do not improve, the next step could be a Drought Emergency, which carries mandatory restrictions — something New Jersey has not declared statewide since 2002.

The township also shared the following summer water conservation guidance:

• Limit lawn watering to two times per week, or less when rainy weather occurs.

• Water flowers and landscaping using water from a rain barrel.

• Use 30 to 50 percent less water with drip irrigation and microsprays.

• Use a water-saving filter on your home pool.

• Cover your pool when not in use.

• Avoid recreational toys that require a constant stream of water.

• Raise your lawnmower blade to at least 3 inches.

• Use water from dehumidifiers or air conditioners for watering plants.

• Plant and group native, drought-tolerant plants based on water needs.

For current statewide drought conditions, visit njdrought.org.

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