New York City residents lack a vital resource: city authorities sound the alarm.

New York authorities have announced a risk of drought on a citywide scale. In October, New York recorded the second-longest dry spell since 1869, according to The New York Times.

Mayor Eric Adams urged residents to conserve water as much as possible. Authorities also ordered city services to switch to conservation mode. "By starting to save water now, we're doing everything we can to ensure that we can water parks and fill pools in the summer, as well as prevent a more serious drought situation," Adams stated.

According to The New York Times, the city authorities' call does not yet imply any restrictions on water use by New York residents.

"New Yorkers come together during crises, and right now, during the drought, we need New Yorkers to conserve as much water as possible," emphasized Mayor Adams, highlighting the need for immediate conservation measures of this vital resource.

On the city's website, tips for water conservation are published. Among the recommendations are taking shorter showers, turning off the tap while washing dishes, fixing leaking faucets, and reporting leaking fire hydrants.

According to Rohit Aggarwala, Commissioner of the New York Department of Health, weather conditions have led to a significant decrease in the replenishment of water supplies. "October was the driest in the history of observations, leading to minimal water accumulation for reservoir replenishment," Aggarwala stated.

Extreme drought and its consequences

The number of deaths due to heat, lack of food security, and the spread of infectious diseases caused by the climate crisis has reached record levels. Extreme drought has covered nearly half of the earth's surface. As a result, another 151 million people have faced moderate or severe food insecurity, risking malnutrition and other health damages.