Multiple communities issue watering bans or restrictions

MILWAUKEE -- The latest map from the U.S. Drought Monitor shows southern Wisconsin classified as being in a severe drought. The same day the “severe drought” classification was announced, another southeastern Wisconsin community issued a watering ban in order to conserve water supplies.

Pewaukee, Brookfield, Oconomowoc, New Berlin and Germantown are among municipalities restricting water usage.

In Germantown the ban in voluntary. Public Works officials are asking residents to stop watering their lawns altogether and to water bushes, trees and flowers using cans, not sprinklers.

In Brookfield the water ban is being enforced.

Officials have banned the watering of lawns and restricted other watering to every other day -- odd address numbers on odd days and even addresses numbers on even days.

“We’re really asking residents to stop sprinkling their lawn. We’re not asking you to not water your trees, your shrubs, or your bushes. You can do that, but you need to comply to our rules,”Tom Grisa, the Director of Public Works for Brookfield said. 

Residents living in those communities could receive a fine of $492 if they do not comply with the watering bans or restrictions.

Officials say since the watering bans took effect they have noticed a big improvement in their water supply.

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