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The Rockland County Legislature and County Executive Ed Day are recognizing Earth Month this April by highlighting the important connection between water resources and climate resilience. The Rockland County Task Force on Water Resources Management is encouraging residents to learn more about how climate change impacts water availability and how simple conservation actions can help protect the County’s water supply.
Climate change and water are inextricably linked. Changes in temperature and weather patterns affect the availability of water in the water cycle, leading to more intense storms, flooding, droughts, and other extreme weather events that impact communities and ecosystems.
Scientists increasingly describe climate change as a water crisis because many of its most visible impacts are felt through water systems.
Less than one percent of the world’s freshwater is readily available for human use, making conservation and responsible water management essential for sustaining communities and ecosystems. The Water Task Force highlighted these concepts during the March Lunch & Learn webinar, which can be viewed HERE.
“Warmer temperatures contribute to the harmful algal blooms we’ve seen here in Rockland County, while heavy rainfall and floods wash pollutants and bacteria into water sources,” said District 10 Legislator and Task Force Chair Beth Davidson. “To ensure we have enough drinking water to protect public health and quality of life for our residents, it is more important than ever for communities to work together to conserve water and protect our local resources.”
Rockland County relies entirely on local surface and groundwater sources to meet the needs of residents, schools, businesses, parks, healthcare facilities, and other stakeholders. As the County grows and climate patterns shift, conservation plays an important role in ensuring these supplies remain reliable for the future.
“Protecting our water supply is essential to the long-term health and economic stability of Rockland County,” said County Executive Ed Day. “Education and conservation are key tools that help ensure our water resources remain reliable for future generations.”
Residents can take simple steps at home to conserve water and help reduce strain on water resources. Many of these steps will also reduce household water consumption and lower monthly water bills. Easy tips include fixing household leaks, taking shorter showers, turning off the faucet while brushing teeth, using water-efficient WaterSense-labeled appliances, selecting native and drought tolerant plants, and watering landscapes efficiently. Because energy is required to pump, treat, and heat water, reducing water use also helps lower energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
As part of its ongoing webinar series, The Task Force hosted a Lunch & Learn in April that highlighted the Rockland Planning Land Use with Students (RPLUS) Program, a high school-based initiative that engages students in hands-on learning focused on land use planning through social, economic, and environmental perspectives a high school initiative engaging students in hands-on land use planning, alongside an overview of the NYS DEC HREP climate program. The session will highlight RPLUS’s impact in Rockland County and outline NYS DEC HREP’s climate program, services, and funding opportunities, while connecting water-focused Climate Smart Communities actions—such as green infrastructure, flood resilience, and water conservation to broader climate adaptation efforts. Guest speakers include Margie Turrin and Marisa Annunziato, LDEO & Neil Bettez and Christina Carrero, NYS DEC HREP.
Residents are encouraged to follow the Water Task Force on social media to learn more about water conservation, upcoming events, and available resources. Additional information and tips are also available on the website at https://www.rocklandcountyny.gov/departments/health/environmental-health/task-force-on-water -resources-management.
The Rockland County Water Conservation Project is funded by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Follow them on LinkedIn:linkedin.com/showcase/rocklandwatertf/
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RocklandWaterTF/
Visit the website: RocklandCountyNY.gov
Rockland County Task Force on Water Resources Management
Dr. Robert L. Yeager Health Center
50 Sanatorium Road, Building D Pomona, NY 10970
Email: Rocklandwatertf@co.rockland.ny.us
Phone: (845) 364-2604
