In response to continuing dry conditions, the Drought Coordination Committee of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments issued a drought watch for the region Wednesday, and urged residents to limit water use.

“The watch is voluntary, not mandatory. It’s just highly recommended at this time to conserve water,” said Stuart Freudberg, director of the Department of Environmental Services for the Council.

A watch is the second level of the four-stage drought-response plan used by the council. Agency officials said they do not anticipate reaching the drought warning or emergency stages for areas that use water from the Potomac River. The flow in the Potomac remains at a level about twice that of current water supply demands, according to the council. Several smaller systems, however, are experiencing more significant problems.

The agency asked residents to limit watering lawns, reduce shower times and wash full loads of laundry and dishes. Businesses are being asked to use brooms instead of hoses to clean their front steps or walkways.

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“The most emphasis is going toward outdoor water usage,” Freudberg said. “That’s what's really keeping the demand high for water this time of the year.” Loudoun County adopted mandatory water restrictions on Tuesday.

Precipitation in the Washington area over the past month is 50 to 75 percent below normal and has dropped more than 5 inches below normal in the past 90 days, according to the Council’s statistics.