Des Moines Water Works officials are asking customers to reduce lawn watering by 25%. KCCI reports Des Moines Water Works officials said Monday that drought-induced low river levels and record-breaking demand for water have forced the implementation of stage one of its water shortage plan. Des Moines Water Works officials said a 90% demand in production capacity triggered the stage 1 plan. On Friday, Des Moines Water Works delivered nearly 90 million gallons of water to its 500,000 customers.

Officials say the Raccoon River is so low, that you can walk across it, and they’re asking everyone to hold off using excess water on all Mondays, especially with regard to the watering of lawns. Even-numbered addresses are asked to water on Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday. Odd-numbered addresses on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

As the Des Moines area continues into another week of high temperatures, Des Moines Water Works cautions that water usage guidelines could change on a daily basis. Customers should visit the utility’s website: www.dmww.com.

The following communities and agencies are served in whole or in part by Des Moines Water Works: Alleman, Ankeny, Berwick, Bondurant, Clive, Cumming, Des Moines, Johnston, Norwalk, Pleasant Hill, Polk City, Runnells, unincorporated Polk County, Urbandale, Waukee, West Des Moines, Windsor Heights, and rural water districts such as a Warren Water and Xenia Rural Water districts.