KYW Newsradio Team Coverage –

New Jersey is under a drought “watch” — and residents are being urged to voluntarily conserve water.

KYW’s Ian Bush and Paul Kurtz report that officials say long spells of hot, dry conditions over the summer have put a strain on reservoir, stream, and groundwater levels.

The state’s Department of Environmental Protection says that residents can help by limiting lawn watering, cutting back on at-home car washing, and running washing machines and dishwashers only when fully loaded.

New Jersey’s average rainfall for August was under 2½ inches. That’s more than two inches below normal.

The next step, if these dry conditions continue, is a drought warning, which carries mandatory restrictions.