U.S. Water News Online
AMES, Iowa -- Residents could face water restrictions for the first time in 25 years.
Officials warned that without a reduction in water use and substantial rains, the city could impose mandatory water restrictions.
Iowa State University has voluntarily shut down its irrigation system for grassy and garden areas, said Bob Currie, the university's assistant director of facilities.
If dry conditions persist, other departments on campus could have to reduce water consumption.
At least three other communities -- Emmetsburg, Bloomfield and Villisca -- have asked residents to reduce water consumption. Officials at the Department of Natural Resources said the last time several cities at once asked residents to conserve water was in 1998.
Tom Neumann, director of the water and pollution control department in Ames, said concern over water use started in June, when levels of use soared past the average of 6.5 million gallons per day to more than 9.5 million gallons per day.
Neumann said special events in Ames, including the Odyssey of the Mind festival in June and the Special Olympics USA National Games earlier this month, contributed to the water shortage, but the lack of rain and constant lawn watering are more to blame.
"I'm sure those activities contributed to the peaks that we saw, but they aren't sustained," he said.
The Ames City Council would have to approve any mandatory water conservation. The last time that happened was in the summer of 1981, when residents had to pay extra for water that exceeded levels set by the city.
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