Several towns in northern Westchester are being asked to restrict how much water they're using all the way into October, starting Monday.

The goal is to not impact how residents use water in their house – the mandatory restrictions currently apply to outside only.

The days residents can water lawns and gardens will be based on addresses. Even numbered addresses can do so on even days, while odd-numbered addresses on odd days.

"It's going to help make sure the supply meets the demand," says Supervisor Matthew Slater, of Yorktown.

Residents won't be allowed to fill swimming pools on weekends, or allowed to use water hoses for street cleaning.

There's a $1.2 million upgrade needed at a treatment plant for the Northern Westchester Joint Water Works, meaning the plant won't be treating as much water as normal. With demand surging during the summer and people at home more during the pandemic, it's creating a problem. The towns could use more water than is being produced, with the risk being not enough water for fire protection.

"The source water could be contaminated in distribution," says Matthew Geho, NWJWW operations director. "We want to prevent that at all costs."

Geho says they are not close to that point yet, but that's what is possible if no one listens to the mandatory restrictions.

"People have automatic sprinklers today that they don't even realize the volume of water that goes through that sprinkler," says Geho.

The restrictions on planting and watering outside does not apply to plant nurseries or commercial water users, just when it comes to watering plants, shrubs or trees at their businesses. The water district is willing to work with any business owners who could be concerned.