Residents Asked to Reduce Water Usage

Temperatures are expected to threaten 100 degrees throughout the middle of this week and, with an increase in water usage predicted as well, Harrison is asking residents to conserve as much water as possible.

Although there is not a water shortage - the reservoirs are full - Harrison's water supply must be pumped into various water tanks. When temperatures spike water goes out faster than it can be pumped in, Harrison Mayor/Supervisor Joan Walsh explained. She added that in a worst case scenario water pressure reductions could cause problems in the event of a fire.

Harrison Fire Chief Dino Del Signore told Harrison Patch on Friday that until the area receives some rain, brush fires will continue to be a concern. It took authorities several hours to completely extinguish a fire in Veterans Park on Friday, but low water pressure was not a problem while fighting that fire.

Walsh is asking residents to slow their water usage for the remainder of this week, especially from 5 - 10 a.m. She specifically asked residents to delay tasks like washing cars and laundry and to turn off lawn sprinklers.

"Care on the part of everyone will be for the benefit of all," she said.

The National Weather Service has placed Harrison, as well as most of southern New York and most of Connecticut and New Jersey under a heat alert this week. Temperatures in the area are expected to reach 98 degrees today and 94 degrees tomorrow, with only a 10 percent chance of rain.