With the high temperatures in the area this week, the City of Adel has issued a “Water Watch.”

It is a voluntary reduction of water use in times of extreme heat, in order to conserve water in the City. It’s the first stage under the recently adopted Water Conservation Plan in Adel. Under the water watch, customers of the municipal water service are encouraged to limit or eliminate all non-essential uses of water in order to conserve it during a shortage.

One area in particular residents are asked to limit is watering their lawns. Under the water watch, people are advised to avoid lawn watering during the hottest part of the day because the majority of water is lost to evaporation during that time. Instead, they should water between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. Other water uses that should be limited include filling private pools and washing cars, except at commercial establishments.

The water watch is strictly voluntary, and people will not be cited for non-compliance. However, if the weather gets hot enough to issue a water warning, non-voluntary water conservation could become necessary. Anyone with questions is encouraged to contact the City of Adel at 515-993-4525.