McKee issues drought watch, urges Rhode Islanders to conserve water

Rhode Island is now under its first drought watch since 2002, as Gov. Dan McKee has urged residents to conserve water due to persistently low precipitation levels. This upgrade from an advisory comes after the state’s Drought Steering Committee noted declining groundwater and stream flow. It’s a crucial step to manage potential water shortages, especially for agriculture and daily usage, highlighting the impact of climate change on local water supplies. The committee will reconvene in mid-July to assess the situation further.