Berks remains under drought watch

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has lifted the drought watch for 47 counties but kept it in place in 20 others, including Berks, Chester, Lehigh and Montgomery counties.

Delaware and Schuylkill counties were among the counties removed from the watch list.

Residents under a drought watch are asked to cut their daily water use by 5% to 10%, or by three to six gallons.

Tips to conserve

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

• Shorten the time you let the water run to warm up before showering, and take shorter showers. The shower and toilet are the two biggest indoor water guzzlers.

• Check for and repair household leaks. For example, a leaking toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water daily.

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

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

For a map of drought declarations updated daily, see the DEP drought web page.