Cornell has lowered its water use restriction to a water use advisory, which means water conservation efforts are now strongly encouraged but not required, announced KyuJung Whang, vice president for infrastructure, properties and planning, Nov. 7.

Despite the recent rainfall, the region is still experiencing drought conditions, and conservation measures will continue. Students, faculty and staff are reminded to report any water leakages, limit showers to five minutes or less, and turn off faucets when brushing teeth or washing hands.

“I applaud the Cornell community for its enthusiastic participation in water conservation practices, which have resulted in a 20 percent campuswide reduction in demand,” Whang said.

The university will continue to work closely with the city of Ithaca and Tompkins County to monitor the regional drought levels, and it will either de-escalate or escalate the drought response level as necessary, he said.

Additional information about the drought and water-conservation efforts is available on the Sustainable Campus website.