Rochester Residents Asked to Restrict Water Use Amid Drought

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- Rochester residents are being asked to restrict water use as drought conditions continue expanding in the area.

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The request, made by Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) on Friday, comes as the latest update from the U.S. Drought Monitor shows Rochester remains in an extreme drought. June and July are now rated as the eighth driest on record with the rainfall deficit for the two-month period now at more than 6 inches below normal in the Rochester area.

RPU says the drought conditions have been found in the watershed that Olmsted County is a part of. They’re urging residents to limit irrigation, car washing, pool filling as well as consider all conservation methods when using water.

There may be some drought relief on the horizon. The National Weather Service says they’re tracking a system of slow moving storms that have the potential to drop locally heavy amounts of rain Saturday night into Monday morning.

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