Scranton, PA Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)

Scranton's drinking water is supplied by Pennsylvania American Water (https://www.amwater.com/paaw/), a regulated investor-owned utility operating in Scranton since the acquisition of the former Pennsylvania Gas and Water Company assets, and subject to Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission oversight under 66 Pa.C.S. The City Code does not impose year-round odd/even or fixed-day watering. Two state-law layers can trigger mandatory restrictions. First, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), through its Drought Task Force, issues four-stage drought declarations (Normal, Drought Watch, Drought Warning, Drought Emergency) under the Emergency Management Services Code (35 Pa.C.S.), advisory in the first two stages and mandatory at Emergency. Second, when the Governor declares a drought emergency, 4 Pa. Code Chapter 119 (Prohibition of Nonessential Water Uses in a Commonwealth Drought Emergency Area) automatically takes effect within the declared area: it prohibits watering of lawns, ornamental plants, trees, and shrubs except by hand-held hose or container; washing of paved surfaces; ornamental fountains; and other listed nonessential uses. 4 Pa. Code Chapter 118 (Reductions of Major Water Use in a Commonwealth Basin Drought Emergency Area) requires public water systems and major commercial/industrial users to implement reduction plans. Pennsylvania American Water has its own PUC-approved drought contingency plan and historically issues voluntary conservation notices during a DEP Drought Watch, asking customers to reduce nonessential use by 10-15%. The Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC), with jurisdiction over consumptive water use in the Susquehanna watershed (which includes the Lackawanna River feeding Scranton's regional supply), can also issue its own drought-driven curtailment orders under the Susquehanna River Basin Compact. Lackawanna County does not impose separate mandatory restrictions; the operative framework is utility plus state.