The city of Dallas implemented the first stage of its Drought Contingency Plan on Dec. 12, which limits the amount of outdoor watering that the city's residents can do per week in an effort to reduce the area's overall consumption by five percent because of the drought.

Dallas residents can now only water outside twice a week until the restrictions are lifted. Businesses and homes in the city that have an address ending in an even number can only do outside watering on Sundays and Thursdays, and addresses that end in an odd number can only do outside watering on Saturdays and Wednesdays. Watering is not allowed between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on watering days, which means you must water in the mornings or evenings.

The outdoor watering restrictions apply to every form of watering, including automatic sprinklers, drip irrigation and hand watering.

People who violate the mandatory restrictions will get a warning on their first offense and a fine of $250 to $2,000 on subsequent violations.

The drought is expected to last through next summer, and the city's water supply reservoirs have already depleted by about 25 percent.