"The Morning Call Inc., Copyright 2002"
Date: SUNDAY, July 7, 1985
DROUGHT RESTRAINTS REMAIN EVEN THOUGH RAIN WAS UP IN JUNE
by KATHERINE REINHARD, Sunday Call-Chronicle
In the last few weeks the Allentown Public Works office has been getting 10 to 15 calls a day from people wondering whether the drought is over.
With June's 5.06 inches of rain in the Lehigh Valley which is 1.61 inches above normal, it's not surprising to hear that people are questioning why they can't wash their cars or fill their baby pools.
But, as far as the Delaware River Basin Commission is concerned, the drought is still threatening the water supply in eastern Pennsylvania, western New Jersey, Delaware and New York City.
The restrictions imposed since Gov. Dick Thornburgh declared a drought emergency on April 26 will remain in effect.
''You should realize that we're still having a deficit in precipitation. You're not seeing massive amounts of rain,'' said Don Baker, DRBC water resources engineer.
Since January, the Lehigh Valley has had 16.09 inches of precipitation, an amount that is 5.6 inches below normal, said Charles Giannetta, weather specialist for the National Weather Service at the Allentown-Bethlehem-E aston Airport.
While June's rains in the Lehigh Valley were higher than normal, the same can't be said of the basin's critical northern area, which is home to the three reservoirs that supply water to New York City.
The supply of water in the Pepacton, Neversink and Cannonsville reservoirs is actually lower now than it was in June. As of July 4, the reservoirs were 58.3 percent full. In the beginning of June, they were 61.6 percent full, Baker said.
''A lot of this rain has been missing those reservoirs,'' said Baker.
Having full reservoirs at this time of year is crucial because the Delaware River's salt front usually moves farther up the river during the summer months. Water from the reservoirs is released to keep the salt front from creeping even farther.
The Blue Marsh, Beltville and Francis E. Walter reservoirs are filled to capacity, with Blue Marsh and Beltville experiencing spill over, Baker said. But, those areas enjoying above-average rains are not seeing a rise in their water tables.
Baker explained that the summer months of June, July and August are the driest of the year as far as water tables go. This is because the rain that falls is soaked up by the crops, trees and grass.
''In April or March you see a lot of water runoff; you see higher flows in the river,'' said Baker. ''But, now you've got the plants intercepting (the rain). You don't see much runoff.''
The state Department of Environmental Resources is well aware of the feeling among sectors of the public that the recent rains have ended the need for water conservation.
Some 2,200 people have called the state's toll-free drought information line, many of them questioning the need for restrictions, said Susan Woods, DER assistant press secretary.
''I know we have had a substantial amount of calls from people wanting to know whether they can wash their car,'' Woods said. ''The people see that we had rain and they think that the drought is over.''
For the month of July, the weather service is predicting ''somewhat above normal'' rainfalls in the Lehigh Valley, Giannetta said.
Baker said the Delaware River Basin will need a lot more than slightly above normal rainfalls over the next few months to bring about an end to the drought. At best, he said, the basin will be able to maintain the status quo.
Although DER doesn't have statistics, Woods said, the water restrictions have led to a decrease in water consumption.
''We don't have any hard and fast figures,'' said Brown. ''But, the drought experts say some water companies have indicated that water consumption is down.''
Allentown Public Works is one water company that has seen a drop in water consumption. Donald Lichty, city utility engineer, said there is a two million gallon difference between the water used by Allentown customers in June 1984 and 1985.
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"WEATHER BY GIANNETTA"