Water is a shared resource, making the consequences of Ohio's drought diverse and complex.

The U.S. Drought Monitor indicates the majority of the state is currently experiencing abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions, with several counties affected by severe to exceptional drought. ODNR said it’s imperative that Ohioans use water wisely. 

Tips to conserve water at home:

• Reduce shower time: this can save 5-7 gallons of water per minute

• Only run dishwasher and washing machine with full loads, this saves hundreds of gallons annually per household

• Only water lawn during coolest part of day 

• Check local watering restrictions, such as designated watering days/times 

• Repair leaks quickly and update old fixtures to more efficient types 

“One of the most important things we can do is track our water use. People don’t take into account how much they actually use,” said Brad Lodge, the water inventory and planning program manager at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. “So we're all in this drought together. It's covering 90% of the state. It is a shared resource. And we need to think of this as Ohioans, as one to come together, to start conserving water and think of, think of your neighbor.”

Even with some rain in the forecast, ODNR said the drought is predicted to persist in southern and eastern Ohio and to continue to develop in central, northern and western regions. 

The drought is already having an impact on agriculture, but depending on how long it lasts, ODNR said it might lead to limitations on municipal water supply and impact wildlife as well, among other things. 

"We do see some rain on the horizon next week, so we're hoping and praying for that," Lodge said. "This can have some ripple impacts. So if we see this drought worsen and we don't get a really wet fall, winter, spring, and then we have another dry summer next year, our reserves are going to already be low. So we pray for rain. Any and all rain, we'll take what we can get."

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