Pennsylvania American Water Urges Customers in 12 Counties to Conserve Water Amid Drought Watch

10/09/2025 – 03:20 PM

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. – Pennsylvania American Water is proactively urging its customers across several service areas to voluntarily scale back their water consumption. This measure comes in response to the drought watch declared this week by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). While the utility emphasizes consistent wise water usage, the call to action now is for residents and businesses to reduce nonessential water use by 10-15%, aligning with the DEP’s advisory. This translates to a daily reduction of approximately 11-16 gallons per household.

“We’re aligning with the DEP’s request and asking our customers in the impacted areas to be particularly mindful of their nonessential water consumption during this drought watch,” stated Brandy Braun, Director of Water Quality and Environmental Compliance for Pennsylvania American Water. “While our current water supply is sufficient to meet consumer demand, this preemptive measure is designed to mitigate the potential for more severe conditions and stricter conservation mandates down the line.”

Of the 25 counties currently under the DEP’s drought watch declaration, Pennsylvania American Water provides services to 12. These include Beaver, Butler, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Schuylkill, Warren and Washington counties.

The DEP’s drought watch, which was enacted on October 6th following a meeting of the Commonwealth Drought Task Force, relies on analysis of public water supply levels and key indicators: precipitation, surface water flow, groundwater levels, and soil moisture. A drought watch is the initial, least severe designation in Pennsylvania’s drought classification system.

Beyond the immediate call for conservation, Pennsylvania American Water is investing in leak detection technology and infrastructure upgrades. These investments are designed to reduce non-revenue water loss and enhance the resilience of the water supply network, particularly crucial during periods of drought. The company is also exploring advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) to provide customers with more granular data on their water usage, empowering them to make more informed conservation decisions.

Pennsylvania American Water provides a variety of water conservation tools and resources through the “Wise Water Use” section of its website. The company is also part of the Alliance for Water Efficiency, which offers an online “Water Use Calculator”. This tool lets users enter household-specific data and receive tailored recommendations for water and energy savings. Periodic water conservation tips are also disseminated via email campaigns, bill inserts, and social media.

Key water conservation tips highlighted by Pennsylvania American Water include:

• Operate dishwashers and clothes washers only with full loads, utilizing water-saving cycles where available.
• Conduct regular checks of toilets, faucets, and pipes for leaks, utilizing free leak detection kits. Address any identified leaks promptly.
• Install water-saving showerheads, toilets, and faucet aerators.
• Prioritize water and energy-efficient appliances, choosing products with the WaterSense label which are certified to be at least 20% more efficient.
• Turn off the tap while brushing teeth or hand-washing dishes.
• Water lawns only when necessary and during early morning or evening hours to minimize evaporation.
• Utilize a broom instead of a hose for cleaning sidewalks, driveways, and patios.
• Consider installing a rain barrel to collect and reuse rainwater.

About American Water

American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility in the United States. Founded in 1886, American Water provides regulated and market-based drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people in 14 states. American Water employs approximately 6,700 professionals.

About Pennsylvania American Water

Pennsylvania American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, is the largest regulated water utility in Pennsylvania, providing water and wastewater services to approximately 2.4 million people.