1.5 million people asked to conserve water in Seattle because of statewide drought

SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle Public Utilities is asking about 1.5 million customers in the Seattle area to use less water amid ongoing drought conditions. The Seattle Times reports people on Thursday were asked to stop watering lawns, to reduce shower time, and to fix leaking pipes and running toilets. The Seattle Public Utilities director says an early melt of last winter’s snowpack and little rainfall over the summer months mean there’s dwindling water supply. Residents have been asked to use less water until there is enough rain to refill the mountain reservoirs to necessary levels. The utility says the last time it made such a request was in 2015.