Are dishwashers banned? Here’s what the N.J. drought warning means.

There’s no denying the drought situation in New Jersey is bad, and it keeps on getting worse. Just look at the parched lawns, struggling crops, rash of wildfires, and steady drop in water storage sources like reservoirs and aquifers.
The drought has worsened during recent weeks, prompting Gov. Phil Murphy and the state Department of Environmental Protection to declare a statewide drought warning on Wednesday.
If you’re wondering whether you are under orders to limit your water use at home, the short answer is no. The state cannot force you to reduce your water use, because the drought warning does not call for mandatory water restrictions.
However, if the drought continues to get worse and water storage levels drop dangerously low, the state can declare a drought emergency — which would give it the power to impose mandatory water use restrictions.
The current situation may be a little confusing because the state’s largest water company — New Jersey American Water — issued an alert that it described as a “mandatory conservation notice” on Wednesday.
Despite the word mandatory, the company acknowledged it doesn’t have the authority to force people to use less water at home.
But New Jersey American Water, some smaller water companies like Aqua NJ, and many state officials are all strongly urging residents across New Jersey to conserve as much water as possible, both indoors and outdoors, to avoid a potential water crisis.
The pleas not only apply to homeowners, but renters and businesses as well.
Here are many suggestions being offered by New Jersey American Water, other water companies and the state Department of Environmental Protection to help reduce water usage:
Stop all outdoor watering. Plants require less water in the fall, so allow them to go dormant for the season.
Postpone new landscaping. Officials recommend delaying landscaping projects, which require a lot of water, until the spring.
Winterize your irrigation system. Turn off and drain lawn sprinkler systems, outdoor spigots and hoses.
Don’t wash cars at home. Instead, use a commercial car wash that recycles water.
Don’t wash sidewalks or driveways. Use a broom instead of a hose or power washer to clear leaves and debris from sidewalks or pavement.
Take shorter showers. Try to limit your shower to 5 minutes or less. Water officials say shortening your shower by just 1 or 2 minutes can save up to 150 gallons of water per month.
Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, shaving, or washing dishes in the sink.
Run dishwashers and washing machines only when full. If you have a water-saver cycle, use it.
Don’t use hot water to thaw frozen food. The Aqua NJ water company, which has about 185,000 customers in 11 New Jersey counties, says: “Think ahead, and leave frozen foods in the fridge overnight. It saves water, and it’s safer, too.”
Repair water leaks. Find and fix leaks and breaks in hoses, sprinkler systems, pipes and toilets. (Additional details can be found in New Jersey American Water’s Leak Detection Kit at newjerseyamwater.com under Water Information.)
Insulate exposed water pipes with pre-slit foam insulation (available at home improvement stores) to maintain warmth and avoid wasting water while it heats up.
Install special faucets and showerheads that are designed to conserve water.
Upgrade your toilet. A new dual-flush model can use less than 1 gallon of water compared to up to 5 gallons for older models. If you have an older model and can’t update it, simply place a full water bottle inside your tank. Each time you flush, you’ll use that much less water.
Buy water-efficient and energy-efficient appliances. NJ American Water says products and services that have earned the U.S. EPA WaterSense label have been certified to be at least 20% more efficient without sacrificing performance.
Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.
Len Melisurgo may be reached at [email protected] or on X at @LensReality.