Storms help central Indiana reservoirs; more rain needed - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Rain storms that raced across the state last night are giving us significant and long overdue relief from the drought.

Water levels in the reservoirs are higher. Water consumption was down nine million gallons overnight, according to Citizens Water. Unfortunately, the rain isn't helping lawns and trees as much.

Scattered thunderstorms dropped more rain in one night than some areas of central Indiana have seen in months, lifting people's spirits.

"I went out and stood in it. It was wonderful," Linda Spencer said with a big smile.

Some of the biggest storms hit the Morse and Geist areas. Geist Reservoir is up slightly. Morse Reservoir, drained alarming low by the drought, rose almost four inches overnight.

"It is a quite a lot of water," said Dan Considine of Citizens Water.

A lot more water is running down the White River and Fall Creek, which are primary sources of Indianapolis' drinking water. Water flow has improved so much, Citizens has all but stopped drawing water from Morse Reservoir.

Rain not only puts more water in reservoirs and rivers, it also reduces consumption. When it's raining, people aren't outside watering. However, homeowners expecting pale brown lawns to suddenly go green are likely to be disappointed.

"Unless you've been in areas that have been hit two, three, four times," explained Rich Hayes of Green Acres Landscaping.

Hayes says to keep watering those small trees. Half an inch of rain isn't helping them much, either, but big, mature trees that are losing leaves and appear to be dying, may really be okay. The professional landscaper calls it the trees' natural defense mechanism.

"It is dropping leaves, so it requires less moisture to survive. So, in most cases, the larger trees are going to survive," Hayes said.

Even with the rain, water levels in the reservoirs up, Fall Creek and the White River are still well below normal for this time of year. Mandatory watering restrictions remain in effect. Numerous sources say it will take widespread rain and a lot more of it, several times more than we saw Thursday night, to get Indiana out of the drought.

See all watering restrictions for central Indiana.

Water conservation tips.