While New York City is indeed located near rivers, its primary water supply comes from a system of reservoirs and aqueducts, not directly from the rivers. The drought warning declared by Mayor Eric Adams is based on the water levels in these reservoirs, not the river levels.
Here are the key points to clarify the situation:
- New York City’s water supply: The city’s drinking water comes primarily from a network of 19 reservoirs and three controlled lakes in a 2,000-square-mile watershed, mostly located in the Catskill Mountains and Hudson Valley regions[1][3].
- Current reservoir levels: The city’s reservoirs are currently at 60% capacity, which is significantly lower than the normal 80% for this time of year[1][2].
- Precipitation shortage: New York City and its watershed areas have experienced a historic lack of rainfall. Since October 1, the city has recorded less than a quarter-inch of precipitation[2].
- Drought warning criteria: The decision to declare a drought warning is based on these reservoir levels and the lack of precipitation, not on the water levels of the rivers within the city limits[1][3].
- Conservation measures: The drought warning triggers various water conservation protocols for city agencies and encourages residents to reduce water usage[1][3][4].
The rivers flowing through New York City (such as the Hudson and East Rivers) are not the primary source of the city’s drinking water. Therefore, their water levels do not directly impact the drought status. The drought warning is a proactive measure based on the water supply system’s current state and the ongoing lack of precipitation in the watershed areas.
Citations:
[1] https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/nyc-issues-drought-warning-pauses-aqueduct-repairs-115985981
[2] https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/18/nyregion/drought-warning-new-york.html
[3] https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2024/11/18/new-york-city-under–drought-warning–for-first-time-since-2002
[4] https://www.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/839-24/mayor-adams-elevates-drought-level-warning-pauses-delaware-aqueduct-repair-project-orders-city
[5] https://longisland.news12.com/mayor-eric-adams-says-nyc-now-under-drought-warning-for-first-time-in-22-years
[6] https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-and-mayor-adams-provide-update-statewide-drought
[7] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNMcetcpWUw
[8] https://www.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/840-24/transcript-mayor-adams-elevates-drought-level-warning-pauses-delaware-aqueduct-repair
[9] https://nypost.com/2024/11/18/us-news/adams-issues-drought-warning-for-new-york-city/
Here is the mayor of a city that stands on the vast Hudson River, announcing a drought. It reminds me of a joke from the USSR: if communists were allowed to manage the Sahara Desert, there would soon be a shortage of sand.
Sources: BigNY.com , Midtown Tribune,