Drbc Issues Drought Warning 7 Million People Asked To Conserve
Water  September 16, 1995|by ELLIOT GROSSMAN And JOSEPH P.
FERRY, The Morning Call Staff writers Christine Schiavo and
Aminah Franklin contributed to this story.  The Delaware River
Basin Commission added its voice yesterday to the chorus calling
for water conservation. And it warned that mandatory
restrictions could be next for 7 million people.  "If the dry
pattern continues, we could be in an emergency situation by Nov.
1," said Gerald Hansler, the commission's executive director.
The commission issued a drought warning, a step short of the
drought emergency Hansler cited as a possibility. With a drought
warning, people in parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York
and Delaware are being asked to reduce their non-essential use
of water.  Also yesterday, Gov. Tom Ridge created a Pennsylvania
drought task force to deal with the water shortages.  The task
force will work with county and local leaders, emergency
managers and water managers to ens