The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announced Monday after a meeting of the Commonwealth Drought Task Force that drought watch has been lifted for 16 counties and remains for 20 counties. Residents in those counties are asked to continue their voluntary water conservation.

The drought watch has been lifted for Lehigh and Monroe counties. Carbon, Northampton and Schuylkill counties remain under drought watch.

Residents on drought watch are asked to reduce their individual water use by 5% to 10%, or a reduction of 3 to 6 gallons of water per day.

There are many ways to conserve water at home, 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.

• 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. For example, a leaking toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water daily.

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

• Install low-flow plumbing fixtures and aerators on faucets