Despite some rain last weekend and during the week, all local counties except Monroe remain under a drought watch, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

Local counties are running a 6- to 8-inch deficit in annual precipitation so far in 2016 compared to historic averages.In the meantime, the Delaware River Basin Commission has announced that storage levels in two reservoirs in the Schuylkill and Lehigh river valleys are fast approaching levels that would require the issuing of a drought warning unless the region receives much-needed rainfall.Releases from the Beltzville and Blue Marsh reservoirs are intended to keep the salt line within the tidal Delaware Bay so it does not reach drinking water intakes serving residents in Philadelphia and New Jersey or industrial sites along the Delaware River. The salt line is more than 13 miles upstream from its normal location for this time of year despite significant freshwater reservoir releases, the DRBC said, adding that if more releases of water are needed, this will lead to declines in reservoir storage at Beltzville and Blue Marsh and additional drought risks.This means we must do our part to conserve water. We also need to be extra careful with fire when we are in the woods or forests, especially with the dry conditions and the rapid falling of leaves triggered by recent high winds.Here are a dozen sensible rules to help you conserve water:• Take shorter showers and save 3 to 5 gallons every minute.• Fill the bathtub just halfway and save 10 to 15 gallons.• Check for household leaks. A leaking toilet, for example, can waste up to 200 gallons of water a day; that's a whopping 6,000 gallons a month or 18,000 gallons a quarter.• Install water-saving toilets, shower heads and faucet aerators. Place a brick or a plastic bottle filled with water into your toilet tank if you can't switch to a low-flow toilet.• Run your dishwasher and washing machine only with full loads.• Don't let the water run while hand-washing dishes.• Replace older appliances with high-efficiency, front-loading models that use about 30 percent less water and 40 to 50 percent less energy.• Never use the toilet as a trash receptacle and don't flush it unnecessarily.• Position downspouts so that rain water runs onto the lawn or into the garden, not down the driveway.• Plant drought-resistant trees, shrubs and flowers, and use mulch to keep the soil moist.• Never water lawns during the heat of the day. Better yet, avoid watering them at all, because by this time of the year, grass is starting to go into a period of dormancy.• Do not use water to clean sidewalks or driveways. Sweep them instead.The DEP also advises residential customers to check their water meter or bill to see how much water is being used. A good rule of thumb is 50 to 60 gallons a day per person.As for fire danger during drought conditions, most people believe the greatest danger of wildfire occurs during the summer months, but, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, most wildfires occur during October and November and in April and May.There are three necessary ingredients for a wildfire to occur: a fuel source, such as grasslands, fields, leaves and brush; dry conditions such as we are having now, and an ignition source - some way for the fire to start. The Conservation Departments said that 98 percent of wildfires are started by people.Although wildfires are most prevalent in the fall and spring, they can occur in any month and at any time of the day. These wildfires are capable of destroying valuable woodlands and wildlife and their habitats. Depending on the severity of these fires, homes and buildings can be lost, and, most important of all, lives can be directly threatened. Everyone needs to do his or her part to ensure conservation of our natural resources. There is no better time to remind ourselves of this than now when we are under a drought watch.By Bruce Frassinelli |

tneditor@tnonline.com