MADISON COUNTY, AL (WAFF) -
The temperature was 105 in Huntsville on Thursday. There was a heat advisory.
No rain is in sight.
And now many communities are restricting outdoor water use, like watering your garden and washing your car.
Harvest is one of the areas where this water restriction applies to outside use but not inside.
At this time, this is only a voluntary restriction, but it could become mandatory if residents don't start conserving now.
The Harvest-Monrovia Water Authority issued what they call a Level 2 water restriction immediately.
Residents in the community are advised to water only on Monday and Wednesday for even-number addresses.
Those in odd-number addresses may water yards on Tuesday and Thursday.
No watering is allowed over the weekend.
The water authority said this is a cautionary measure to avoid a water shortage, as water tank levels are at 50 percent or less.
The last time Harvest enforced mandatory restrictions was back in 2007 during a major drought.
"So we're taking a more proactive route this time around, asking customers to voluntarily curtail their use of water," said Roger Raby with Harvest-Monrovia Water Authority.
Mandatory restrictions will be put in place if water tank levels get dangerously low.
"Right now there is no penalty with Level 2. We hope customers will understand that there's a need to curtail the water usage and if we are able to curtail enough usage, maybe the mandatory Level 3 will not have to be implemented," said Raby.
Harvest residents like Glenn Funkhouser said they were unaware of this summer's restriction until now.
He said he's used to watering his lawn without conserving but will begin to do so.
"Every day now, it's been so hot and dry. I set both sprinklers front and back. I just don't want to lose my lawn," he said.
Water restrictions are also in place in Limestone and Lauderdale counties and the Greenhill Water Authority.
If want to know about water restrictions in your neighborhood, you're asked to contact your county or city water authority.
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Water restrictions have been put in place tentatively to keep water tank levels at a decent level.
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