"When they've called in, we've suggested that they don't," he said. "The dry conditions are bad. We're just wanting people to wait."
Both departments are hopeful Mother Nature will cooperate soon, but Brumfield added it will have to be a prolonged downpour.
"We don't really have a magic number. It would have to be something more than a passing shower," he said. "It has to soak the ground really well."
How dry is it?
According to the National Weather Service in Louisville, the Lexington area is significantly behind in normal rainfall amounts for the year.
As of Monday, the area, which normally receives 18.99 inches for the year has only received 13.55 inches, a difference of minus 5.44 inches. For May, the area is more than 3 inches short of rainfall levels.
The forecast for Thursday and Friday is calling for temperatures in the upper 80s to low 90s with a 40 percent chance of rain on Saturday.
Area water supplies in good shape
While neighboring Garrard and Woodford counties are taking steps to conserve water, suppliers in Jessamine County say the water levels are fine ... so far.
"We've still got water coming over the dam," Nicholasville Utilities Director Tom Calkins said. "When the water stops going over the dam, then we're in trouble. We check it every day."
Nicholasville also supplies Jessamine County Water District No. 1.
Tony Smith, field manager for the Jessamine-South Elkhorn Water District says the demand has increased, but as of right now, there is no cause of alarm.
"We're not at that point yet," he said. "It's all a matter of time. If this continues we may be, but right now we're OK."
Wilmore Utilities Director Dave Carlstedt said that city's demand has gone up, but because many students from Asbury College and Asbury Seminary have gone home for the summer, he doesn't expect the situation to get critical any time soon.
"Starting about the middle of last week we started seeing an increase," he said. "Normally this is the time of year when the students go home and we total about 500,000 gallons a day, but last week we were at 600,000 gallons a day," he said. "We're up about 15 to 20 percent because of the dry weather conditions."
Because of the school year ending, Carlstedt said Wilmore has a little more flexibility in its water supply.
"We've got a window of time because the students have gone home," he said. "It won't be painful for us until the middle of August when they return."
