
More than 17 million people across the Northeast are facing a severe water crisis as drought conditions continue to deplete major reservoirs and local water sources, forcing dozens of communities to implement emergency measures.
The drought’s impact spans across multiple states, with communities from Massachusetts to New Jersey reporting critically low water levels. The Delaware River Basin, a crucial water source for the region, is experiencing unprecedented strain, according to state and federal officials.
“We’re facing a critical situation that requires immediate action,” said Sarah Martinez, director of the Northeast Regional Water Authority. “Many of our communities are operating at dangerously low capacity.”
In New Jersey, towns like Montclair, Wayne, and Ringwood are experiencing severe impacts as the Wanaque Reservoir drops to 44% capacity. Newark officials report their water system is under significant stress, while smaller communities like Mendham and Chester have implemented strict water use restrictions.
Massachusetts communities are particularly hard hit. The Cambridge Reservoir has fallen below 50% capacity, affecting water supplies in surrounding towns including Arlington, Belmont, and Watertown. Further north, communities like Ipswich, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and Topsfield have initiated emergency water management protocols.
In New York’s Hudson Valley, towns including New Paltz, Kingston, and Poughkeepsie are reporting concerning reservoir levels. The Ashokan Reservoir, serving parts of Ulster County and New York City, has dropped to concerning levels.
“Every town is approaching this crisis differently based on their unique circumstances,” explained Dr. Robert Chen, hydrologist at the Northeast Climate Center. “But we’re seeing unprecedented cooperation between communities to share resources and implement solutions.”
Local responses include:
- Ridgewood, New Jersey: Implemented alternate-day watering schedules
- Concord, Massachusetts: Banned all non-essential outdoor water use
- Ossining, New York: Activated emergency well systems
- Greenwich, Connecticut: Established water-sharing agreements with neighboring towns
- Portland, Maine: Launched aggressive leak detection programs
Smaller communities are particularly vulnerable. Towns like Millburn and Short Hills in New Jersey, Acton and Sudbury in Massachusetts, and Rhinebeck and Red Hook in New York have reported critically low groundwater levels, forcing them to explore emergency connections with larger water systems.
“The situation in smaller towns is especially concerning,” said Environmental Engineer Lisa Wong. “Communities like Westfield, New Jersey, and Bedford, New York, don’t have the infrastructure redundancy of larger cities.”
Connecticut towns including Darien, New Canaan, and Wilton are coordinating with state agencies to monitor reservoir levels, while Rhode Island communities such as Bristol, Warren, and Barrington have implemented strict conservation measures.
Pennsylvania communities in the Delaware River Basin, including Easton, Bethlehem, and Stroudsburg, are also feeling the impact, with some reporting their lowest water levels in decades.
State officials across the region are coordinating response efforts. New York has not issued a drought warning since 2002, while New Jersey is under its first drought warning since 2016. Massachusetts has placed 90% of its communities under some level of drought advisory.
Looking ahead, meteorologists predict that significant precipitation will be needed over several months to restore water levels. “Even with normal rainfall, recovery could take until late 2025,” warned National Weather Service meteorologist James Peterson.
The crisis has prompted regional leaders to call for long-term solutions, including infrastructure improvements and climate resilience planning, as communities prepare for what could be an extended period of water conservation measures.
References:
Drought Status Update for the Northeast, Drought.gov, December 13 2024
Water levels at reservoirs all over the Northeast dried up due to drought conditions in recent months, ABC News, November 21, 2024
Northeast faces threat to water supply as drought hits NYC and New Jersey, SAN, November 21, 2024