BRICK, N.J. (AP) — With wildfires burning after its driest September and October ever, New Jersey will issue a drought warning, a step that could eventually lead to mandatory water restrictions if significant rain doesn’t fall soon.
The state Department of Environmental Protection held an online hearing Tuesday on the conditions. But they would not answer questions, including whether any part of the state is in danger of running out of drinking water or adequate water to , which are burning in nearly a half-dozen locations. The Associated Press left a message seeking comment from the department after the meeting.
About an hour after it concluded, the department announced a press briefing for Wednesday “to discuss the state entering Drought Warning status as prolonged dry periods continue statewide.” The New Jersey Forest Fire Service says conditions in the state are the driest they have been in nearly 120 years. State geologist Steven Domber said water levels are declining across New Jersey.
“They are well below long-term averages, and they’re trending down,” he said. “They will continue to drop over the coming weeks unless we get significant rainfall.” He said about half the public water systems in New Jersey are experiencing close to normal demand for water, but 40% are seeing higher demand than usual.
It could take 10 inches (25 centimeters) of rain to meaningfully improve conditions in New Jersey, officials said. But forecasts don’t call for that. The .