FRANKFORT, KY - As a result of the recent high temperatures and limited rainfall, Kentucky's Energy and Environment Cabinet announced Friday a water shortage watch for 27 counties, including Crittenden and Webster in western Kentucky. 

Other counties on the list are spread throughout central Kentucky. 

People in water shortage watch areas should be more aware of the effects of the drought on local water supplies, and be prepared to reduce water use upon request by their local water supplier.  Self-supplied individuals on wells or other small sources should avoid excessive water use and report losses of water supply to their county health department.
 
In areas not included in the watch, water supply sources remain at acceptable levels, but capacity issues associated with high temperatures and dry conditions have prompted local water advisories in several counties.

“The combined impact of dry conditions and extremely hot temperatures at this time is causing a one-two punch,” said state climatologist Stuart Foster. “An exceptionally dry June throughout the state coupled with some record-high temperatures over the past week have caused drought conditions to intensify and spread eastward to cover most of Kentucky,” he added. “The current situation is reminiscent of 1988, while there are some indications that persistence of the current hot and dry pattern that would trigger comparisons to droughts from the 1930s.”

Agriculture has been particularly hard hit in western Kentucky counties. “The timing of the drought on corn has already and will continue to reduce yields significantly,” said University of Kentucky Agricultural Meteorologist Tom Priddy. “Doubled-cropped soybeans are having a difficult time with germination. Ponds are running low for irrigation purposes and watering of livestock. Western and central locations may be near the point where rain would provide little benefit for corn and soybean growth, development and yield.”

DOW Drought Coordinator Bill Caldwell said public water suppliers play a vital role in helping drought specialists monitor the drought’s progression. “Water suppliers in the 27-county watch area and throughout the state should closely monitor their supply sources and notify the Division of Water if water shortages occur,” he said.

A water shortage watch is issued when drought conditions have the potential to threaten the normal availability of drinking water supply sources.People living in these areas are encouraged to closely monitor local news sources for notification from water suppliers on reducing demands for water.

Officials at the Kentucky Division of Water study rainfall amounts, reservoir levels, streamflows, the Palmer Drought Index and the Drought Monitor when determining drought status.

Visit the Division of Water website at http://water.ky.gov/wa/Pages/Drought.aspx for information about current drought conditions in Kentucky and water conservation measures.

On the Net:

List and map of all 27 counties in water shortage watch