Area remains under drought watch

Potter, Cameron and Elk counties remain under a drought watch, despite improving conditions.

McKean County is among those recently lifted from the Pa. Dept. of Environmental Protection drought watch.

"While above-normal precipitation over the last month has helped conditions, there are still lingering concerns about groundwater levels in some pockets of the state," said DEP Secretary Kathleen McGinty. "In those counties that remain in a drought watch, residents should continue to conserve water."

A drought watch is the first and least severe of the state's three drought declarations. It calls for voluntary conservation.

Under a drought warning, also a voluntary measure, residents are asked to reduce their water consumption by 15 percent. A drought emergency calls for mandatory reductions in nonessential water use.

"Conditions are continuing to improve across the state, with the exception of a handful of groundwater wells," McGinty said. "In addition, many public water suppliers have lifted their voluntary or mandatory restrictions for their systems as supplies have increased."

The DEP first declared a drought watch for 58 Pennsylvania counties in August.