DROUGHT WATCH LIFTED FOR WESTMORELAND COUNTY

While voluntary water conservation efforts continue for Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County customers served by the Beaver Run Reservoir, a drought watch has been lifted for the county as a whole. The Trib reports that the State Department of Environmental Protection lifted the drought watch for Westmoreland and some other counties as the state has received sufficient rain and snow over the past few months to reduce long-term precipitation defecits. Municipal authority spokesman Matt Junker said the water level in the Beaver Run Reservoir was at 1,038.6 feet above sea level on Wednesday, estimated at the equivalent of more than 6.8 billion gallons of water. Before ending the voluntary conservation program, he said, the authority wants to make sure there is a steady recovery in the water level at the reservoir.