Based on recently released data by the U.S. Drought Monitor, nine urban areas in the United States are under “exceptional drought” conditions and may experience widespread crop damages, even more severe water restrictions and water emergencies in the coming months.
According to the report, conditions are so serious in the nine locations that even a significant rainfall event likely is to have only a marginal impact.
“These areas need multiple rainfalls in order to raise water tables and to begin to fill reservoirs,” Waterless Co. CEO and water conservation advocate Klaus Reichardtsaid.
Cities in the report with the most serious water problems in the country are Santa Fe and Albuquerque, N.M.; Corpus Christi, Brownsville, Harlingen, McAllen and Lubbock Texas; and Colorado Springs and Pueblo, Colo.
Most of the listed cities now have either voluntary or mandatory water restrictions in place, such as limitations on watering lawns, washing cars and filling swimming pools.
“The smaller communities are in the most serious predicament,” Reichardt said. “They typically only have one water source. If that lake or reservoir goes dry, which may happen in certain areas, that’s all they have.”
