HARRISBURG — After a meeting of the Commonwealth Drought Task Force, the Department of Environmental Protection on Friday declared a drought watch for 16 counties, including Cameron, McKean and Potter.

The other counties involved are Armstrong, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Fayette, Huntingdon, Indiana, Juniata, Mifflin and Perry.

Residents are asked to reduce their individual water use 5 percent to 60 gallons per day, based on a statewide average of 62 gallons per person per day.

“We’re asking residents in these 16 counties to use water wisely and follow simple water conservation tips to ease the demand for water,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell.

DEP recommends the following ways to reduce water use:

Varying localized conditions during a drought watch may lead individual water suppliers or municipalities to request more stringent conservation actions by residents. DEP is notifying all water suppliers in these counties of the need to monitor their supplies and be prepared by updating their drought contingency plans as necessary. Some public water systems have already begun voluntary and mandatory water restrictions to preserve their drinking water supplies.