US drought spreading

The drought in the US spread during September, according to the National Climate Data Centre (NCDC).

Associated Press reported on October 17th that by the end of September, 28 per cent of the contiguous US was in severe to extreme drought.

The figure represents a one per cent increase from a month earlier, while the NCDC also said that a further 15 per cent of the country fell into the moderate drought category.

Due to the dry weather, water levels in rivers in Alabama and Tennessee have dropped to the extent that power generation has been affected, Lake Superior is at its lowest ever level for this time of year, and reservoirs in New York are at record low levels.

This will put further pressure on reptile and amphibian species aswell.
Could be used to help push alternative/greener forms of energy but will it?

Water worries in North Carolina
24 Oct 2007
The water shortage in the drought-hit US state of North Carolina is moving towards crisis point, according to a local official.

Associated Press reported on October 23rd that 17 of the state's 604 water systems had supplies of less than 100 days left, while a further 80 are being closely monitored.

Woody Yonts, chairman of the Drought Management Advisory Council, said that the situation had the potential to become worse than the drought of 2002.

Meanwhile, water suppliers in neighbouring Georgia have been ordered to cut withdrawals by ten per cent or face being fined by state authorities, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

As a result, domestic customers will be forced to use less water until the drought starts to ease.