Combined Northeast Reservoirs graph represents the total of 13 separate reservoirs with a combined capacity of 76.2 billion gallons (BG). These reservoirs are owned and operated by four agencies. Declaration of Drought "Warning" or "Emergency" is based on analysis of precipitation during the preceding months and reservoir levels.
Designed to be drawn down in the summer, reservoirs refill in the spring through runoff naturally and by pumping water up into them.
United Water of New Jersey has four reservoirs with a total capacity of 13.9 BG.
The Newark Water Department owns five reservoirs with a total capacity of 14.4 BG.
The North Jersey District Water Supply Commission owns and operates two reservoirs with a total capacity of 36.6 BG and two pumping stations on the Pompton and Ramapo rivers which are used to refill the reservoirs.
The Jersey City Water Department owns 2 reservoirs with total capacity of 11.4 BG
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N.J. reservoir levels dip after dry August
The Jersey City Reservoir hosted a Kayak Day on Sunday, August 9, 2015. Kayaks were provided by the Hoboken Cove Boathouse and the event took place between 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. (Michael Dempsey | The Jersey Journal)
By S.P. Sullivan | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on September 01, 2015
New Jersey's reservoirs are operating at below-average levels this week, prompting one utility to warn customers that a recent stretch of dry weather is depleting their supply.
State officials say they're monitoring the situation but that New Jersey is still far from drought conditions.
An unusually dry August is "testing the limits of our supply," said Tom Neilan, senior operations director for United Water New Jersey. The company is encouraging customers to limit outdoor water use because its reservoirs in Bergen and Hudson counties were at less than 50 percent capacity.
Last month was the 13th driest August in New Jersey history, with the state averaging about two inches below normal rainfall. David Robinson, the state climatologist at Rutgers University, said New Jersey would be in trouble if not for a very rainy June, the fourth wettest on record.
"Without June, we'd be in such dire straits," Robinson said.
Late summer is the normal low point for the state's reservoirs, and nearly every reservoir in the state is slightly below historical average levels for that period, according to data from the state Department of Environmental Protection.
This graph shows the total of 13 separate reservoirs with a combined capacity of 76.2 billion gallons, located across northeastern New Jersey. NJ DEP
Hot, dry weather is expected to continue for much of the state this week, and the DEP has reactivated its internal drought monitoring group, said Larry Hajna, an agency spokesman. The DEP's drought status for all six drought regions in the state remains normal, however.
"We're keeping a very close eye on the situation," Hajna said, calling the current situation "a short-term dry spell."
The state's reservoirs started the year off at normal levels and dipped slightly in February before recovering in spring, according to state data.
"Since then, it's really been bone dry," Hajna said. "Just ask my lawn, or anybody's lawn."
Only Newark's five reservoirs, owned by the city's water department, are at levels above both the historical average and levels recorded at this time last year. According to the state data, those reservoirs are operating around 85 percent capacity.
A report from NJ Spotlight last month found that water use was on the rise statewide, prompting concerns about the stability of water supplies during periods of drought. United Water said Monday they delivered 400 million more gallons in August than it did in the same month last year.