Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County officials said Wednesday that, based on local conditions, there is no reason to implement a mandatory water conservation order.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection last week issued a drought watch and suggested residents enact voluntary efforts to reduce water usage by 5% to 10%.

“The drought is on our radar, and we’re paying attention, but we are not panicking and not enacting any contingencies at this point,” said Brian Hohman, the authority’s business manager.

Nearly 130,000 customers in Westmoreland, Allegheny, Armstrong, Fayette and Indiana counties are served by the municipal authority. The agency has two main water supplies, the Youghiogheny River for the southern half of its customer base and the Beaver Run Reservoir in Bell for customers north of Route 30.

Officials said the recent dry conditions caused water levels at the reservoir to dip over the last month.

“We are 10 feet above drought warning level. We have a great water supply, still,” authority manager Michael Kukura said.

As of Wednesday the reservoir was at 1,044 feet above sea level. A drought warning would be issued when the reservoir drops to 1,034 feet.

Over a three-week period, from May 21 through June 11, the region received no measurable rainfall and the reservoir level at Beaver Run dropped by nearly 3 feet.

The region received 2.45 inches of rainfall in May compared with previous year’s average of more than 4 inches of precipitation during the same month. Meanwhile, the reservoir’s elevation was about 3 inches shy of May averages, according to authority officials.

State drought orders would override local conditions, meaning the authority could still be required to demand customers cut water use should a drought emergency be issued by the DEP, Kukura said.

If issued, a drought emergency halts nonessential water uses including watering of lawns, landscaped areas, gardens and golf courses; washing of vehicles and paved surfaces; operation of water fountains, artificial waterfalls and reflecting pools; filling or topping off of swimming pools; and the serving of water in restaurants unless requested by a customer, according to the state agency.

Relief may be coming.

Bill Modzelewski, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Moon, said the region could experience intermittent rain showers beginning Wednesday night through the weekend.

“It will definitely help. We’re expecting showers possible every day through the weekend,” he said.

Up to three-quarters of an inch of rain is expected through Saturday night.

“We keep praying for rain. There’s no doubt we need it,” Kukura said.

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