NJ Has Saved Water

MOUNT LAUREL – April 15, 2002 — For more than a month now in the Garden State, most lawn watering has been taboo and washing your own car a no-no. The result: Water consumption is down about 5 percent statewide, said Bradley Campbell, commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Lower water use along with average rains have meant the northern New Jersey reservoirs that supply drinking water to the heavily populated northeastern corner of the state have been gaining rather than losing water on the whole.

"Clearly, the public has responded," said state climatologist David Robinson. "The question is: Will there be a greater need for response as the summer progresses?"

It has also helped that water companies have pumped extra water into reservoirs for storage.

On average, the reservoirs recharge between the beginning of November and the end of April, then lose water for the other half of the year as water consumption and evaporation increase.

But during the past winter – the driest on record in the state – the reservoirs were depleted to around 40 percent of capacity.

Only in March did the water levels begin to rise.

And only in the past few weeks did the reservoirs reach half their capacity.

Normally at this time of year, they're around 90 percent full.

Water savings so far have come largely indoors, where people can fix leaks, take shorter showers and turn off the tap while they brush their teeth.

United Water New Jersey spokeswoman Terri Guess said there's evidence the company's customers in Bergen and Hudson Counties started taking some of those measures even before county water use restrictions began there in February.

She said the company is selling about 85 million gallons a day, about 10 million gallons less than normal for this time of year. Use has been falling since February, she said.

Water use has not reduced everywhere, though.

Maureen Duffy, a spokeswoman for New Jersey-American Water Co. said consumption for 2002 so far is nearly identical to consumption for the same period of 2001. The company is the state's largest water supplier with customers in all corners of the state.

She said the water savings should become apparent in the coming weeks as the traditional car washing and lawn watering season gets underway.

That's because this spring, there won't be much of a car-washing and lawn-watering season.

Cars can be washed only at commercial washes. Only residents of central New Jersey can water their lawns – and they are only allowed to turn on their sprinklers every other day.

Other restrictions limit when golf courses can irrigate, ban water from being brought to diners at restaurants who do not request it and ban most street and sidewalk washing.

Campbell said the restrictions could decrease water use by up to 30 percent during the summer. He said it should be clear once the temperatures remain warm whether further restrictions will be needed.

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Author: 6 ABC-AP