Credit: Tom Sofield/NewtownPANow.com
The Newtown-area has been on the cusp of being in drought conditions over the past few weeks.
A series of rain storms moved over Lower Bucks County Monday afternoon and evening.
The National Weather Service reported how much rain the area received:
• Newtown Location One: 0.83 inches
• Newtown Location Two: 0.98 inches
• Washington Crossing: 1.03 inches
• Langhorne: 0.79 inches
The National Weather Service’s reading of precipitation totals showed the central and upper parts of Bucks County received more rain than the Newtown area.
The U.S. Drought Monitor, which was updated last week, listed the Newtown area as being “abnormally dry.” Parts of Upper Bucks County were listed as being in a moderate drought.
In the area, May was particularly dry, with the month being among the driest in decades, according to data.
“More generally over the last few weeks, especially across the western half of the Northeast, streamflows and soil moisture are very low, amid unusually hot temperatures and high evaporative demand for this time of year. As a result, drought and abnormal dryness expanded across much of the western half of the region, especially from western New Jersey through Pennsylvania and New York, as well as northern Virginia and eastern West Virginia,” according to experts from the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Previously, the Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority asked customers to conserve water due to the dry weather.
The Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority provided tips for customers to decrease the amount of water use:
• run the dishwasher and clothes washer only when fully loaded.
• defrost frozen food in the refrigerator or in the microwave instead of running water over it.
• when washing dishes by hand, use two basins – one for washing and one for rinsing rather than let the water run.
• reduce the amount of water an older toilet uses by placing a half gallon plastic jug in the tank.
• cover your spa or pool to reduce evaporation. An average size pool left uncovered can lose as much as 1,000 gallons (3,785 liters) of water per month.
