New Yorkers are being urged to “help conserve every drop you can” as city leaders issued a drought alert amid a historic dry spell in the region.

Mayor Eric Adams and the city’s Department of Environmental Protection issued a drought alert Saturday as part of an effort to conserve New York state’s water resources.

October was one of the driest months in the city’s history. Since 1869, when we began collecting records in Central Park, we have never gone an entire month without measurable rain. On Tuesday, 29 days into the month, we finally managed to accumulate the minimum amount of measurable rain: 0.01 inch.

This tiny amount of precipitation made October 20024 the driest calendar month on record, edging out June 1949, where we got 0.02 inches.

“New Yorkers come together in times of crisis, and right now, in the midst of the driest period in recent memory, we need New Yorkers to do just that and conserve as much water as possible,” said Mayor Adams.

“By starting to save water now, we are doing everything we can to ensure we can water our parks and fill our swimming pools next summer, and to avoid a more serious drought emergency.”

A drought watch is the first of three declarations the city can make regarding water conservation. The first is a drought watch, followed by a drought warning, then a drought emergency.

The mayor’s order also calls on all municipal agencies to update their water conservation plans and be prepared to implement them in the event of new measures to preserve upstate reservoirs.

“Implementing voluntary water conservation measures now can help avoid the need for stricter restrictions in the future. The administration is prepared to implement immediate measures at municipal agencies to conserve water and is prepared to take further action if necessary,” said Chief of Staff and Severe Weather Coordinator Camille Joseph Varlack .

According to the DEPthe city’s water supply is at about 65.9% of capacity, down from the normal 76.6%.

Adams shared the following water conservation tip:

• Report open fire hydrants and street leaks to 311. An open fire hydrant can release more than 1,000 gallons per minute, wasting 1.4 million gallons of drinking water over a 24 cycle. hours.
• Do not flush the toilet unnecessarily. According to the EPA, toilets are by far the largest source of water consumption in a home, accounting for nearly 30 percent of a home’s average indoor water consumption. Each flush can use 1.6 gallons, with older models using up to 6 gallons.
• Take shorter showers, saving five to seven gallons per minute. When taking a bath, fill the tub only halfway and save 10 to 15 gallons.
• Do not run the tap when shaving, washing your hands or brushing your teeth. Faucets use two to three gallons per minute.
• Fix leaks. A leaky faucet that drips at a rate of one drop per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
• Run the dishwasher and washing machine only when they are full. Use short cycles if available. Turn off the water while you wash the dishes.
• Install water-efficient fixtures, including low-flow toilets and showerheads, as well as faucet aerators.
• Sweep driveways and sidewalks rather than washing them with a garden hose.
• For even more ideas, visit DEP Water Saving Tips Website.