Following the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJ DEP)’s declaration of a Statewide Drought Warning today, New Jersey American Water has issued a mandatory conservation notice for all customers across the state. The company requests that customers limit all nonessential water usage by pausing all outdoor watering until spring and conserving as much as possible indoors. Customers are being notified of this action today through the company’s emergency notification system.

Outdoor Conservation Guidelines:

  • Pause all outdoor watering. Plants require less water in the fall, so allow them to go dormant for the season, and postpone water-intensive landscaping until spring.
  • Winterize your irrigation system. Turn off and drain sprinkler systems, outdoor spigots, and hoses.
  • Sweep, don’t spray. Use a broom instead of a hose or pressure washer to clear leaves and debris from sidewalks or pavement.
  • Use a commercial car wash that recycles water, instead of washing your car at home.

 Indoor Conservation Guidelines:

  • Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, shaving, or washing dishes in the sink.
  • Run dishwashers and clothes washers only when full. If you have a water-saver cycle, use it.
  • Take shorter showers. Try to shower in five minutes or less.
  • Be a leak detective. Find and fix leaks and breaks in hoses, sprinkler systems, pipes and toilets. For help, download New Jersey American Water’s Leak Detection Kit at newjerseyamwater.com under Water Information.
  • Insulate exposed water pipes with pre-slit foam insulation to maintain warmth and avoid wasting water while it heats up.
  • Consider water and energy-efficient appliances. Products and services that have earned the US EPA WaterSense label have been certified to be at least 20 percent more efficient without sacrificing performance.

New Jersey American Water customers can monitor their water usage and find ways to use water more wisely online through their MyWater account. More indoor and outdoor water-saving tips can be found on New Jersey American Water’s website at newjerseyamwater.com/conservation and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Water Conservation Website.

It is important to note that while New Jersey American Water issued a mandatory conservation notice for our customers to emphasize the severity of the drought and to support to NJDEP’s escalation to Drought Warning, we cannot enforce conservation measures.