Bloomington's mayor will ban the use of city utility water for most outdoor uses beginning Monday because lawn watering and other uses are straining the city's water treatment plant.
Mayor Mark Kruzan said Tuesday the plant has been pumping near or above its maximum capacity for hours at a time and in extreme temperatures.
He notes that the high demand occurs at a time when as many as 30,000 Indiana University students and employees and other residents have been out of town.
The Herald-Times reports that violators face possible fines of $100 or higher.
Indianapolis and other communities also have imposed water restrictions. The U.S. Drought Monitor report released last week showed nearly a quarter of the state was in an "exceptional" drought.
