New Jersey, where Waterspirit’s office is now and has always been located, is facing a significant drought. Conditions continue to deteriorate across the state, recently prompting NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to elevate the drought status from a “watch” to a “warning.” This is a direct call to action for every resident and business to significantly reduce water usage, now, and consistently going forward.

For new readers, a “watch” is a heads-up, a “warning” indicates that the state’s water supply is under genuine stress. If dry conditions persist, stricter, mandatory restrictions might be necessary. To avoid that outcome, we must all act now to conserve precious, life giving, life sustaining, sacred water.

RESOURCES FOR ACTION:

Visit NJDEP’s Website for Up To Date Drought Information: https://dep.nj.gov/drought/

Explore NJDEP’s Water Conservation Tips Page: https://dep.nj.gov/conserve-water/why-conserve-water/

The current drought underscores a profound truth: water is not a commodity. Water is sacred and fundamental to life and ecosystems. When our water supply is threatened, every facet of community is at risk. From a mix of experience and a report from Rutgers, we know that flooding increases during drought. Waterspirit is glad to support your NJ municipality’s MS4 permit requirements as well as green infrastructure education, outreach and projects.

This crisis highlights the inextricable ilink between water and public policy. As watershed residents, we have a right and responsibility to demand and help create proactive policies, like the NJ Green Amendment, that protect water for the long term.

We invite you to connect with us! Let’s channel our collective concern into meaningful change. We are always looking for passionate volunteer advocates to help us advance preventative policies. Through understanding the connection between policy and our daily lives in our watersheds, we can make a powerful difference.

Join us! Check out our volunteer page and Ambassador Training and let’s secure a just and stable future, together.