Mercer, Lawrence Counties under drought watch

The Pennsylvania Drought Task Force announced on Monday that several counties across the Commonwealth are being placed under a "Drought Watch". including Mercer and Lawrence Counties.

"Pennsylvania received very little rain over the summer. We want residents to be aware of these dry conditions and be mindful of their water use," said Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Jessica Shirley.

Shirley continued," DEP makes drought declarations based on long-term trends. A severe thunderstorm or rainy week may not lift the drought status for a particular area."

According to 21 News Chief Meteorologist Eric Wilhelm, rain is projected in the forecast for Mercer County and Lawrence County on Tuesday, October 7, 2025. However, the rest of the week will be dry.

There are different stages of a drought declaration that a county may see, including a drought watch, a drought warning and a drought emergency.

Drought declarations are made by assessing four factors, including:

• Precipitation
• Stream flows
• Groundwater levels
• Soil moisture

Under a drought watch, it is encouraged that residents voluntarily reduce their water use by five to ten percent. However, this is not mandatory.

Within the release, several tips are shared on how residents can reduce water usage.

Residents can reduce their water usage by running a dishwasher or washing machine less often and with only full loads.

Additionally, residents could shorten the time water runs to warm up before taking a shower, and by taking a shorter shower.

Residents of Mercer and Lawrence Counties can monitor their drought declaration using the tool provided on the United States Geological Survey website.

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