Chester County officials are calling on residents, businesses, farmers, and organizations to voluntarily cut water use as a drought warning continues across the county, writes Jen Samuel for The Daily Local News. 

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection issued the warning on Feb. 18, but conditions have not improved enough to lift it. 

Data from the National Weather Service shows that precipitation fell below normal from August 2025 through April 2026. Although May had a slight surplus, water officials caution that this is unlikely to reverse nearly nine months of deficit.  

Streams across the county’s 73 municipalities remain well below normal levels. 

A key factor in the ongoing shortage is the hard freeze in December, which limited snowmelt from infiltrating the ground. Levels continued to drop through March instead of recovering.  

“The reservoirs, which provide water to public water systems in Chester County, are currently in good condition,” said Chester County Water Authority Executive Director Seung Ah Byun. “However, declining groundwater levels could affect residents and farmers who use private wells, making water conservation more crucial if drought conditions continue in the upcoming months.” 

Officials also warn that excessive pumping could make pumps burn out or deplete wells faster than they can replenish, especially as summer heats up. 

Under a drought warning, residents and businesses are asked to voluntarily reduce daily water consumption by 10 percent to 15 percent, or about six to nine gallons per person. 

However, a drought emergency comes with mandatory restrictions and by the governor. Chester County’s last official drought warning ran from November 2001 to February 2002, and it escalated to a declared emergency that lasted through December of that year. 

For more on the Chester County drought warning and what officials recommend, read the full report at The Daily Local News. 

_____