When I visited the Neversink watershed last month we discussed the profound shift in precipitation patterns, particularly in light of Irene and Lee—I heard ‘hundred-year flood’ tossed around a few times.
Amazingly, throughout the entirety of the crisis virtually no water was softened or lost. New York’s water is exceedingly well-suited to withstand climate variability and change in that direction.

However, along with the potential horrors of Marcellus Shale, I agree with you in the assertion that a return to pre-60′s precipitation levels and certainly to the drought conditions of the 60′s constitute the greatest danger to the continuing success of our water supply system.