Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County officials prayed for rain as drought conditions caused water levels to significantly fall off at the start of 2024 and triggered a mandatory water conservation order for customers.
Prayers answered.
Rains over the last three days have caused water levels at the Beaver Run Reservoir in Washington and Bell townships to rise 6 feet since Monday.
MAWC officials said about two billion gallons have been added to the reservoir, which supplies drinking water to more than 50,000 customers in the northern half of the authority’s service area.
Beaver Run Reservoir was built in 1952 and, according to authority officials, historically has an average elevation of 1,047.8 feet above sea level in April.
The recent rains increased the reservoir’s elevation to 1,047.5 feet as of Thursday. Spokesman Matt Junker said an elevation of 1,050 feet signals the reservoir is at full capacity, a volume last reached in April 2022.
The reservoir, when full, holds about 11 billion gallons. Officials said, as of Thursday, the reservoir held nearly 10.2 billion gallons. Water levels reached its lowest on Jan. 9, when the reservoir’s elevation sat at 1,032.2 feet and held just more than five billion gallons.
Rains throughout February eased drought conditions. The authority rescinded all conservation orders in early March.
Gauges at the reservoir recorded rainfall of 4.6 inches since April 1, and more than 15 inches in all have fallen since Jan. 9, Junker said.
