Drought could lead to central Indiana watering restrictions - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Indianapolis could see mandatory water usage restrictions if the current drought continues.

Citizens Water said Thursday if central Indiana receives little to no rain in the next two weeks, as forecasts indicate, it may introduce restrictions.

The water company stresses that conservation steps are important to follow right now since reservoir levels are dropping heavily as heavy water usage puts stress on the distribution system, leading to costly water main breaks. They also say it's the right thing to do for the environment and it will save customers money.

100 ways to conserve water

Managing drought conditions

• Water usage is soaring - Central Indiana is experiencing very high water usage levels. About 40 percent of current water usage is from lawn watering. Reducing lawn irrigation demand is a key to avoiding future water use restrictions.

• Reservoirs levels are dropping - Water levels at area reservoirs are beginning to drop quickly. While we expect the reservoirs will have enough water to meet customer demands, lower levels could soon lead to safety restrictions on the use of watercraft.

• Citizens is prepared for drought - Guidelines to manage drought conditions are in place and are available at www.CitizenWater.com.

The water company asks customers to do the following:

• Watering lawns once a week is best for your lawn - Most lawns in Indiana only need one thorough watering per week to remain healthy, according to the experts at Purdue University. Lawns need about 1 inch of water per week. Watering lawns and other plants daily can result in shallow roots, weed growth, fungus and stormwater runoff that can impact local streams. Experts say established lawns go dormant in dry weather and can survive as long as 30 days without rain or watering. Please note: New lawns, flowers and other plants often require more frequent watering. Trees less than three years old require 15 gallons of water per week.

• Water lawns and other plants early - Watering lawns and plants from 4 to 7 a.m. is best to reduce evaporation. Watering at midday results in as much as 30 percent water loss due to evaporation.

• Use the garden hose properly - Sweep driveways, sidewalks and steps rather than hosing them off. Check your garden hose connections for leaks. If your hose connection leaks at the spigot or at a connection with another hose, replace the nylon or rubber hose washer and tighten the connection.