Cranberry Township requests voluntary water use reduction
Cranberry Township officials are asking residents and businesses to voluntarily reduce water usage.
Despite the fact the township is not under a drought emergency declaration, officials said in a Tuesday, Aug. 12, release the request comes in response to “recent high temperatures and a historic, prolonged lack of rainfall.”
Suggested measures include limiting outdoor watering to the hours of 5 p.m. to 9 a.m., using watering methods that minimize waste, postponing nonessential water uses and reusing water, where possible.
The release also said water can be saved by shortening showers, fixing leaks promptly and running only full loads in dishwashers and washing machines.
Residents can also monitor their daily and weekly water consumption by using the water meter portal after setting up a free account through the township’s website.
According to the release, the township will provide updates as they become available.
For more information on water conservation tips and drought preparedness, the township recommended visiting www.dep.pa.gov/Drought or contacting the Cranberry Township Customer Service Center.
The announcement from the township comes as the Greater Pittsburgh Region deals with an unusually dry start to August.
According to National Weather Service data, the last time the area saw no rainfall through the first 10 days in August was in 1887.
The nonexistent rainfall combined with the heat has carried over from the end of July, when the region experienced seven consecutive days, July 23-30, of temperatures at or above 88 degrees, according to weather service meteorologist Liana Lupo.
June saw five straight days with temperatures at or above 90 degrees, which was the most year to date.
There may be a brief reprieve from the lack of precipitation overnight Tuesday into Wednesday afternoon.
“We’re going to have the approach of a cold front into our area which should be bringing some rain to the region,” Lupo said. “Through 6 p.m. (Wednesday), areas of Butler County could see at least up to a quarter-inch of rain.”
However, the rest of the week isn’t projected to see any rain, according to Lupo, as temperatures shoot back up into the 90s heading into the weekend.
