Bowling Green Municipal Utilities customers are using less water after restrictions were put into place, but the reduction has been less than hoped.

BGMU was shooting for 20 percent reductions, said Mike Gardner, Water and Sewer Division systems manager. But thus far reductions have been about 5 percent.

BGMU pumped about 2.5 million gallons of water Tuesday, he said. The previous days had been 2.1 million and 2.6 million gallons.

Also, after conversations with the Kentucky Division of Water, BGMU's goal for reduction in water usage has been increased, Gardner said.

“After talking to the state, they would prefer that we try to reduce usage levels by 25 to 30 percent,” he said. “We're not there yet.”

Overall, though, the situation is not as bad as it was last week because of the actions of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Gardner said. The corps has been doing some calibration at the dam at Barren River Lake, which has caused more water to flow down Barren River.

“We expected that calibration and increase, but we expected it to then tail back down and it hasn't done that yet,” he said.

Even if the flow stays at its current higher level of more than 90 cubic feet per second, BGMU still needs to be careful because of dry weather conditions, Gardner said. Last week, the flow was at 59 cubic feet per second at the water treatment plant. During a typical year, Barren River would flow between 700 and 800 cubic feet per second.

Gardner said he has had several conversations with the corps about the increased water flow and will continue to talk with them.

BGMU also has been forced to implement some hydrant flushing for public safety, he said.

These locations are being flushed because the chlorine levels in the water are becoming too low, Gardner said. One particular hydrant that has been placed on a timed flush is at Kentucky and 13 Avenue.

“That particular hydrant is at a dead end in the line in a neighborhood with a lot of rentals,” he said. “Typically during semesters, there is a lot of water use.”

But water is just sitting in the lines, so they have to be flushed to keep the chlorine levels from dropping and the water from stagnating, Gardner said.

“We know it looks bad with us telling other people to reduce water use,” he said. “People are welcome to come out to that site and take that water and use it to water plants. We'd much rather see it used for that than just running into the gutter.”

Residents with addresses ending in odd numbers can use water outdoors on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, while addresses with even numbers are limited to Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. These restrictions will continue until weather conditions no longer make it necessary.

Also, because of the dry weather, burn bans remain in effect until further notice for Barren, Logan, Simpson and Warren counties.

Police have not cited anyone at this time for violating the watering ban, said Officer Barry Pruitt, spokesman for the Bowling Green Police Department.

“We received a few calls right after the ban was put into effect,” he said. “But it was people who didn't understand the ban.”

After people were educated about what the ban entailed, people have been very good about following it, Pruitt said.

The Warren County Sheriff's Department has responded to a couple of calls about people violating the watering ban, said Deputy Daniel Alexander, spokesman for the department. The department did not have records of anyone being fined.

He said there were two calls Tuesday about someone powerwashing a duplex. There have been four complaint calls about water usage.

There have been no instances reported of people violating the burn ban, he said.

Odds are against rain in this area within the next few days, said Meteorologist John Denman of the National Weather Service in Louisville.

There is a 20 percent chance of rain tonight, but it's so hot and dry those storms will be very scattered, he said.

“There is a 30 percent chance of rain Thursday afternoon or evening as a cool front starts to drop south of the Ohio River,” Denman said.

Although it's not certain if the cool front will bring moisture, it will provide some relief from the high temperatures, he said. Friday's high is expected to be in the low 90s. Saturday, the temperature could drop as far as the upper 80s.