It was raining gently Monday morning as the water commissioners decided at an emergency meeting to institute mandatory water restrictions for all customers of the Boothbay Harbor Water System in Boothbay Harbor, Boothbay, and Southport.

With the reservoir -- Adams Pond in Boothbay -- seriously depleted by drought conditions and record usage this summer, water system officials know it will take more than a shower or two to fill it up.

According to Water System Superintendent Jonathan Ziegra, "The pond's water level is at an all-time low, and dropping every day."

The water system must "take all reasonable steps to prevent unnecessary waste of water," according to a document sent to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) by Water System Manager Jim Somerville. When necessary it may restrict or prohibit the use of water for certain purposes.

In recent weeks, the water system has requested the public's cooperation in conserving water. As of Thursday, October 18, mandatory restrictions are in place for residents, businesses, and departments, as follows:

• Watering lawns is prohibited;

• Watering plants, shrubs, and vegetable gardens is prohibited (Nurseries and retail vegetable outlets may water, using specific procedures);

• Washing non-commercial vehicles is prohibited, except by car washes and where a threat to public health may exist (i.e., inside ambulances);

• Water may not be used in the sweeping or washing of streets, driveways, sidewalks or paved areas;

• Neither municipalities nor any public or private entity may use water for flushing sewers, storm drains or catch basins, except when a threat to public health or safety may exist;

• None of the three fire departments may use fire hydrants for non-essential use such as testing equipment or department drills, except where deemed necessary for public health and safety;

• The use of water for outdoor recreational purposes is prohibited (e.g.,

  watering golf courses and clay tennis courts and filling swimming pools);

• The use of any water for ornamental purposes, including fountains, artificial waterfalls and reflecting pools is prohibited.

• The restrictions will remain in effect until further notice. Violators will first receive a verbal warning. After a second violation by the same customer, the water system may install a flow restrictive device in the customer's service line or terminate service for a period of up to 24 hours.

The system has PUC approval for putting restrictions in place. It has also notified the Department of Environmental Protection and Safe Drinking Water Program as required.

• To get the word out, water system personnel contacted not only the Register, but also Channel 5 and several radio stations. At Police Chief Steve Clark's suggestion, the communications center is transmitting the information to scanners.

Adams Pond's water level is four feet below the dam, "which for that pond is considerable," said Ziegra.

• "It's almost like the tide went out," added Water Commissioner Lewis Curtis, describing the mud flats visible around the pond's edges. He reported that as of Monday five other Maine water utilities were on voluntary or mandatory conservation status.

One cause is lack of precipitation. "It's been a phenomenally dry year," said Ziegra, especially for coastal towns. The Boothbay region had only 0.4 inches of rain in August; and water levels for utilities in Maine are the lowest they've been in 77 years. Eight inches of rain (which translates to eight feet of snow) are needed to bring water utilities in the state back to comfortable operating levels.

Water usage is the other factor contributing to the need for restrictions. Ziegra explained that in August the area's average water use was 1,020,000 gallons per day -- a record for monthly production since the five-year-old treatment plant on Adams Pond opened. On August 11, the region set a record for the single highest water consumption in one day with 1,318,800 gallons produced.

It would seem that the end of the season would bring less use, but surprisingly, Ziegra said last week, "Our usage hasn't dropped off."

Seasonal customers' water throughout the region was shut off this week as planned, and many visitors and summer residents have gone. Nonetheless, said Somerville, "It's going to take a whole lot of rain to recharge the aquifer."

Curtis agreed, "We need heavy rain with run-off in the water table."

The East Boothbay Water District has not taken any water from Adams Pond since September. Instead it's been using its own wells, which are still producing an adequate amount of water.

"Adams Pond is not going to dry up," said Ziegra, "but we don't want to get it so far down it will take us a long time to recover.... One good hurricane or one or two good storms and this whole situation is null and void; but right now it's just not happening. We haven't had any more than a brief rain since June."

And, explained Water System Office Manager Robert Raudenbush, the long-range outlook is not promising.

Curtis said the pond's level has been going down since July. "We're now at a point where recovery is going to be very difficult," he said. Next week a portable pump will be put in Lake Knickerbocker, a back-up for Adams Pond, to test the 12-inch line there. The pump will be left in place in case that lake's water is necessary to help with demand. "If something changes and we don't need to take water from Lake Knickerbocker, we'll take out the pump," said Curtis.

While Raudenbush pointed out that the new usage restrictions are in no way related to last month's terrorist attacks, Curtis explained that the terrorism has prompted other changes.

"We stopped recreational activities at the pond, and the plant is on lock-down," he said. "All vehicles are locked inside at the end of the day."