The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announced today that the Commonwealth Drought Task Force has declared a drought watch for 36 counties.

The impacted areas are on the eastern side of the state, and include Carbon, Schuylkill, Monroe, Lehigh and Northampton counties.

Because of the dry conditions, residents are asked to voluntary reduce their water usage.

“A few counties have experienced very dry conditions over the summer, and a number of others have inched into increasingly dry conditions in recent weeks. We’re asking Pennsylvanians in all of these counties to use water wisely and follow simple water conservation tips to ease the demand for water,” said DEP Acting Secretary Ramez Ziadeh.

Residents in the affected counties are asked to reduce their individual water use by 5 to 10%, or a reduction of three to six gallons of water per day.

The Department of Environmental Protection is notifying all water suppliers in these counties for the need to monitor their supplies and be prepared by updating their drought contingency plans as necessary. Varying localized conditions may lead water suppliers or municipalities to ask residents for more stringent conservation actions, according to DEP.

Six suppliers are asking residents to voluntarily reduce their water use, among them are the Palmerton Municipal Water Authority and the Pennsylvania American Water Company’s Bangor District in Carbon County.

A drought watch is the first notice issued. Dryer conditions could result in drought warnings or drought emergencies.

To determine drought conditions, DEP assesses information on public water supply levels and data on four indicators: precipitation, surface water (stream and river) flow, groundwater level, and soil moisture. DEP said that declarations aren’t based on one indicator alone, such as precipitation.

DEP has a drought coordinator who monitors the indicators in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), which maintains gauges in streams and wells in many Pennsylvania locations.

The next Commonwealth Drought Task Force meeting is at 1 p.m. Sept 13.

DEP noted that there are many ways to conserve water, including:

• Run water only when necessary. Don’t let the faucet run while brushing your teeth or shaving. Shorten the time you let the water run to warm up before showering.

• Run the dishwasher and washing machine less often, and only with full loads.

• Water your garden in the cooler evening or morning hours, and direct the water to the ground at the base of the plant, so you don’t waste water through evaporation.

• Water your lawn only if necessary. Apply no more than 1 inch of water per week (use an empty can to determine how long it takes to water 1 inch). Avoid watering on windy and hot days. This pattern will encourage healthier, deeper grass roots.

• When mowing your lawn, set the blades to 2-3 inches high. Longer grass shades the soil, improving moisture retention. It also grows thicker and develops a deeper root system, so it can better survive drought.

• Check for and repair household leaks.

• Replace older appliances with high-efficiency, front-loading models that use about 30 percent less water and 40-50 percent less energy.

• Install low-flow plumbing fixtures and aerators on faucets.

• Set up a rain barrel to repurpose rain.