Mike Spencer, who is a dishwasher at Cafe Django, waters the restaurant's flowers along Grant Street in late June. Mayor Mark Kruzan is expected on Thursday to issue a 60-day mandatory water use restriction starting Monday, which largely bans — with some exceptions — customers from using water outside. Jeremy Hogan | Herald-Times
Mike Spencer, who is a dishwasher at Cafe Django, waters the restaurant's flowers along Grant Street in late June. Mayor Mark Kruzan is expected on Thursday to issue a 60-day mandatory water use restriction starting Monday, which largely bans — with some exceptions — customers from using water outside. Jeremy Hogan | Herald-Times
Citing concerns about stressed equipment, fire protection and the imminent return of Indiana University students, Mayor Mark Kruzan announced Tuesday that he will implement mandatory water use restrictions for Bloomington Utilities customers next week.

Starting Monday, customers will face written warnings and fines starting at $100 for violating the restriction, which largely bans — with some exceptions — customers from using water outside of household use. The order, which Kruzan has characterized as “most definitely a last resort,” will be formally issued Thursday.

The restrictions come not because of a lack of supply at Lake Monroe, but because of the extraordinary demand the drought has placed on the city’s water treatment plant as more people are using water to irrigate their lawns, Kruzan said. And with little rain in the forecast and another 30,000 people expected to return to town from vacations or to attend Indiana University, demand is expected to continue to rise.
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