Types of Drought (NOAA);

• Meteorological Drought: When dry weather patterns dominate an area.
• Hydrological Drought: When low water supply becomes evident in the water system.
• Agricultural Drought: When crops become affected by drought.
• Socioeconomic Drought: When the supply and demand of various commodities is affected by drought.
• Ecological Drought: When natural ecosystems are affected by drought. 

Before a Drought

Indoor 

• Never pour water down the drain when there may be another use for it. For example, use it to water your indoor plants or garden.
• Fix dripping faucets by replacing washers. One drop per second wastes 2,700 gallons of water a year.
• Check all plumbing for leaks and have any leaks repaired by a plumber.
• Retrofit all household faucets by installing aerators with flow restrictors.
• Choose appliances that are more energy and water efficient.
• Consider purchasing a low-volume toilet that uses less than half the water of older models. 
• Install a toilet displacement device to cut down on the amount of water needed to flush. Place a one-gallon plastic jug of water into the tank to displace toilet flow. Make sure it does not interfere with the operating parts.
• Replace your shower head with an ultra-low-flow version.
• Throw food in the garbage or start a compost pile to dispose it.

Outdoor

• Check your well pump periodically. If the automatic pump turns on and off while water is not being used, you have a leak.
• Plant native and/or drought-tolerant grasses, ground covers, shrubs and trees. Once established, your plants won’t need as much watering. Group plants together based on similar water needs.
• Don’t buy water toys that require a constant stream of water. 
• Don’t install ornamental water features (such as fountains) unless they use recirculated water.
• Consider rainwater harvesting where practical.
• Contact the Water and Sewage Authority for information and assistance.
• When trimming your lawn, leave at least three inches of grass. A higher cut encourages grass roots to grow deeper and holds soil moisture.
• Don’t over-fertilize your lawn. Applying fertiliser increases the need for water. Apply fertilisers that contain slow-release, water-insoluble forms of nitrogen.
• Choose a water-efficient irrigation system such as drip irrigation for your trees, shrubs and flowers.
• Use mulch around trees and plants to retain moisture in the soil. Mulch also helps control weeds that compete with plants for water.
• Invest in a weather-based irrigation controller—or a smart controller. These devices will automatically adjust the watering time and frequency based on soil moisture, rain, wind, and evaporation and transpiration rates. Check with theWater and Sewage Authority to see if there is a rebate available for the purchase of a smart controller. 

During a Drought

Always observe regional restrictions on water use during a drought. Contact the Water and Sewage Authority or local government for current information and suggestions.

Indoor

• Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of tissues, insects and other similar waste in the trash rather than the toilet.
• Take short showers instead of baths. Turn on the water only to get wet and lather and then again to rinse off.
• Avoid letting the water run while brushing your teeth, washing your face or shaving.
• Place a bucket in the shower to catch excess water for watering plants.
• Hand wash dishes by filling two containers—one with soapy water and the other with rinse water containing a small amount of chlorine bleach.
• Clean vegetables in a pan filled with water rather than running water from the tap.
• Store drinking water in the refrigerator. Do not let the tap run while you are waiting for water to cool.
• Avoid wasting water waiting for it to get hot. Capture it for other uses such as plant watering or heat it on the stove or in a microwave.
• Avoid using running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods. Defrost food overnight in the refrigerator or use the defrost setting on your microwave.
• Operate washing machines only when they are fully loaded or set the water level for the size of your load

Outdoor

• Use a commercial car wash that recycles water.
• If you wash your own car, use a shut-off nozzle that can be adjusted down to a fine spray on your hose.
• Avoid watering your lawn and water only when absolutely needed.
• Check the soil moisture levels with a soil probe, spade or large screwdriver. You don’t need to water if the soil is still moist. If your grass springs back when you step on it, it doesn’t need water yet.
• If your lawn does require watering, do so early in the morning or later in the evening, when temperatures are cooler.
• Water in several short sessions rather than one long one, in order for your lawn to better absorb moisture and avoid runoff.
• Use a broom or blower instead of a hose to clean leaves and other debris from your driveway or sidewalk.
• Avoid leaving sprinklers or hoses unattended. A garden hose can pour out 600 gallons or more in only a few hours.
• In extreme drought, allow lawns to die in favour of preserving trees and large shrubs.

Heat Watch and Warning

Each stage in the drought advisory correlates to a goal of conserving public and private water supplies:

• Unnecessary water usage should cease during severe drought conditions. The greater the duration of drought, the more restrictive the measures used, to control the use and consumption of water. This may include, but not be limited to, the reduction of water used for:
  • Washing and cleaning automobiles
  • Watering lawns, plants, trees
  • Filling swimming pools
  • Operating fountains and water displays
  • Operating/maintaining industrial processes/manufacturing
• Prolonged and intense drought may lead to water rationing. The Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service (TTFS), the Water and Sewage Authority (WASA) supported by the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF) may issue potable water to communities via suitable means.
• Some key instalments may be exempted from restrictions. These include medical institutions, nursing homes, schools, emergency operations centres, senior citizens centres, police stations, fire stations, and the military.
• Drought information and restrictions will be disseminated by the media.
• Prior to drought conditions becoming severe, individuals, organisations, and agencies should make provisions to stockpile bottled water and other liquids. A three-day supply per person is recommended.
• During an incident, all requests for assistance that cannot be solved at the local level will be routed to the activated National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC). These requests will then be routed to the appropriate ESF representative for immediate action.
• The Prime Minister will be informed of the situations and response being taken.
• The Prime Minister may declare a State of Emergency or Disaster Area as appropriate.

Drought Watch: Water Use Recommendations 

Turf and Agricultural Watering

1. Use of potable water for turf and plantings should be minimised
2. All outdoor watering should be performed in a conservative manner and by efficient means.

Golf Courses and Athletic Fields

1. Use of potable water for turf and plantings should be minimised.
2. All outdoor watering should be performed in a conservative manner and by efficient means
3. A drought management plan should be developed.

Recommendation: Where a source of non-potable water exists at the location of use, it should be used in lieu of potable water in a conservative manner.

Miscellaneous Uses

1. Water should be served in public establishments only at the customer’s request.

Drought Warning: Water Use Recommendations and Restrictions

Turf Watering:

Use of potable water for turf watering should be limited to between the hours of 5 pm and 9 am by any efficient means and only for newly sodded or seeded areas. Newly sodded or seeded means planted less than one year.

Recommendation: Where a source of non-potable water exists at the location of use, it should be used in lieu of potable water in a conservative manner.

Agricultural Watering

1. Use of potable water for watering of outdoor plants should be limited to new plantings. New plantings are those less than one-year-old.
2. New plantings should be watered manually or with soaker hoses.
3. Irrigation bags or similar devices are recommended for trees and other individual plants.
4. Nursery stock should be watered by any efficient means.
5. Watering required in earthworks projects should be done under officially approved plans.

Recommendation: Where a source of non-potable water exists at the location of use, it should be used in lieu of potable water in a conservative manner.

Golf Courses and Athletic Fields

1. Use of potable water should be limited to between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. for trees, greens, and fairways to prevent damage.
2. Water conservation measures and drought management practices should be used to reduce water use.
3. Drought management plans should be finalised.
4. Watering of grass or clay courts, and athletic fields should be limited to between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m.

Recommendation: Where a source of non-potable water exists at the location of use, it should be used in lieu of potable water in a conservative manner.

Miscellaneous Uses

1. Water should be served in public establishments only at the customer’s request.
2. Use of potable water for washing private vehicles is permitted only by the use of a bucket and a hose with a flow-control nozzle.
3. Use of potable water for washing paved surfaces is prohibited, except for sanitation.

Drought Emergency: Mandatory Water Use Restrictions

Turf Watering:

1. The use of potable water for watering established turf is prohibited. However, the following uses of potable water are permitted, only to the minimum extent necessary to prevent damage:

Between 6pm and 9 am by any efficient means and only for newly sodded or seeded areas

Exception: Where a source of non-potable water exists at the location of use, it must be used in lieu of potable water in a conservative manner.

Agricultural Watering

1. The use of potable water for watering of established plants and trees is prohibited. However, the following uses of potable water are permitted, only to the minimum extent necessary to prevent damage:
2. Use of potable water is allowed for production of food, fibre, nursery stock, sod, flowers, livestock, and poultry. Otherwise, newly planted (less than one year old) outdoors plants may only be watered manually or with soaker hoses, and only between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. with the user in attendance.
3. Nursery stock may be watered by any efficient means for only two periods per day totalling no more than six hours, with no more than ten minutes of syringing of stressed plants between the hours of 12 noon and 3:00 p.m.
4. Public gardens may be watered by any efficient means to prevent damage.
5. Watering required in earthworks projects should be done under officially approved plans.

Exception: Irrigation bags or similar devices may be used for trees and other individual plants. Commercial plantings may have maintenance periods longer than one year after planting – as required under contract. Where a source of non-potable water exists at the location of use, it must be used in lieu of potable water in a conservative manner.

Golf Courses and Athletic Fields

1. Use of potable water is allowed between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. only for tees and greens to prevent damage.
2. Watering of grass or clay courts and athletic fields is allowed only between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. to maintain playability.

Exception: Daytime syringing for heat sensitive grasses is permitted to prevent damage. Where a source of non-potable water exists at the location of use it must be used in lieu of potable water in a conservative manner for trees, greens, and fairways.

Miscellaneous Uses

1. Water will be served in public establishments only at the customer’s request.
2. The use of potable water for non-commercial washing of private vehicles is prohibited.
3. The use of potable water for washing paved surfaces is prohibited, except for sanitation.
4. Flushing water mains or hydrants is prohibited except for public protection purposes and only by authorized personnel.
5. The use of potable water for the filling of swimming pools is prohibited except for filling therapeutic pools or to prevent structural damage to new pools.
6. The use of potable water for topping off swimming pools is permitted only to the extent necessary to maintain proper filtration.

Exception: Where a source of non-potable water exists at the location of use, it shall be used, when appropriate, in lieu of potable water in a conservative manner.

https://www.ready.gov/drought