NEW JERSEY — The Murphy administration on Friday issued a statewide Drought Warning, urging residents and businesses to cut back on water use amid more than a year of below-average precipitation and worsening water supply conditions across New Jersey.
“The Department of Environmental Protection is closely monitoring drought indicators and water supplies to ensure we have enough water across the state,” Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement. “While there are currently no mandatory restrictions in place, it is up to each of us to take precautions now and do our part by conserving water use in and around our homes and businesses.”
The designation follows an Administrative Order signed by Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette, elevating the state from a Drought Watch—issued Oct. 1—to a Drought Warning, one step below a Drought Emergency that could include mandatory restrictions.
“The precipitation and water supply uncertainty we’ve experienced over the past year is a symptom of the impacts of climate change here in New Jersey,” LaTourette said. “We ask residents, businesses, and partners in local government to join us in spreading the urgency of the need to conserve water.”
The last statewide Drought Warning was declared in November 2024 and lifted this past June after heavy rainfall in May eased conditions. Still, the state has accumulated significant precipitation deficits over the past 15 months, prompting the heightened status.
“Over the past 15 months, we’ve seen a significant deficit in precipitation, with only two months exceeding average levels,” State Climatologist Dave Robinson said. “While May 2025 brought much-needed relief as a ‘drought buster,’ it wasn’t sufficient to completely alleviate the ongoing drought conditions.”
What the Drought Warning Means
The warning allows the DEP to work more closely with water suppliers to manage resources, direct intersystem water transfers, control reservoir releases, and adjust required stream flows to balance ecological needs with water supply demands.
The move follows a virtual public hearing held Thursday, during which DEP officials briefed water suppliers and the public on conditions and gathered input on available water-management options.
The goal, state officials said, is to preserve and balance water supplies to avert more severe shortages later.
Water Supply Conditions
The DEP sorts the state into six drought regions. Below are the regional updates with county names preserved exactly as given:
Northeast: Reservoir levels have fallen to 48% capacity, well below the normal 72% for early December.
– The North Jersey District Water Supply Commission’s reservoirs are at 45% (normal 68%), serving portions of Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Passaic counties.
– Veolia-NJ’s three reservoirs serving Bergen County are at 50% (normal 63%).
– Newark and Jersey City reservoir systems are slightly above 50%, still below last year’s levels.
Central: Predominantly served by the New Jersey Water Supply Authority. Reservoirs serving Middlesex, and parts of Mercer, Somerset, Union, Hunterdon, Warren and Morris counties are at 79% capacity (normal 89%).
Coastal North: Serving much of Monmouth County and northern Ocean County, reservoirs operated by New Jersey American Water and the New Jersey Water Supply Authority are at 79% (normal 86%).
Northwest: Encompassing primarily Sussex and Warren counties, drought indicators show groundwater and precipitation as severely dry and stream flows as extremely dry.
Southwest: Covering Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Salem counties, this region relies mostly on groundwater, where levels are extremely dry. Precipitation and stream flows are severely dry.
Coastal South: Serving Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties, rainfall indicators are moderately dry, while groundwater and stream flows are extremely dry.
Winter Water Conservation Tips
The DEP is urging residents to take immediate steps to reduce water use, including running dishwashers and washing machines only when full, shutting off irrigation systems, insulating outdoor pipes, fixing leaks, limiting garbage disposal use, and choosing water-efficient appliances and fixtures.
Commercial car washes that recycle water are encouraged over at-home washing, and homeowners planning spring landscaping are urged to choose native or drought-tolerant plants.
Drought Types and Monitoring
New Jersey’s current drought is classified as a water supply drought, affecting reservoirs, streams and groundwater. The DEP uses precipitation, reservoir storage, stream flows and aquifer levels to determine drought status in its six monitoring regions.
Resources
State water supply information and the full Administrative Order are available at njdrought.org.
Water conservation guidance can be found at dep.nj.gov/conserve-water/, and information on water-efficient appliances is available at dep.nj.gov/appliancestandards.
