As Limestone County smoldered after a week of triple-digit temperatures, water customers were asked to voluntarily conserve by following some water-saving tips.

Limestone County Water and Sewer Authority announced Friday it had entered the first stage of its water conservation policy, which calls for a 10-percent reduction in water use.

“The Limestone County Water and Sewer Authority is experiencing record-setting water consumption brought on by rainfall shortages and high temperatures,” said General Manager James Sneed. “It is our hope that voluntary conservation will allows us to alleviate some short-term low pressure issues, while continuing to supply some relief to our neighboring systems.”

The authority is seeking voluntary compliance from residents. Officials offered these tips to help achieve the goal:

• Irrigate between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. This will reduce the amount of water lost to evaporation. If possible, complete the watering cycles before 1 a.m. or 2 a.m. so water tanks have a chance to recover before the peak demand hits, which is about 6 a.m.

• Reduce irrigation frequency. Use a soil probe to determine the amount of moisture in the soil. If there is moisture in the root zone, delay irrigation for a day and check the soil moisture again.

• Keep grass long – about 2.5 to 3.5 inches.

• Sharpen mower blades. A newly-cut blade of grass loses less water than one with a jagged cut.

• Evaluate your sprinkler system to see if it is working efficiently.

Review the water conservation policy at www.limestonecountywater.com.