Alabaster residents and those who live in the police jurisdiction could be fined up to $500 for violating outside watering restrictions imposed by Mayor David Frings.

Frings ordered an Outside Watering Restriction for at least 30 days during Monday night’s Alabaster City Council meeting.

Frings reported on a letter from Water Board Manager Pete Lucas outlining a problem with the city’s water supply and urging restrictions on outside watering.

Frings said the city is purchasing a half million gallons of water per day above contract from Pelham and Shelby County.

He said the city should be able to make it through the summer. But he said the city would buy water from Bessemer next summer.

In the meantime, under his authority as mayor, Frings ordered a 30-day ban on outside watering on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

He said those residents with even house numbers can water on Mondays and Thursdays from 6-8 a.m. or 6-8 p.m. and those with odd house numbers can water on Thursdays and Fridays from 6-8 a.m. or 6-8 p.m.

He said enforcement of the watering restrictions would fall to the Alabaster Police Department and the Code Enforcement Officer.

Previously one of the two wells taken out of service earlier this year by the Alabaster Water Board was cleared for use, but officials were still asking customers to conserve water as the summer – a time of peak water usage -drew near.

&uot;At this point we would just like to ask people to be wise with their water usage,&uot; Lucas said. &uot;Be mindful of the water-supply situation and try not to waste it.&uot;

However, Lucas said, since that time water levels in the city’s tanks have been continually dropping. And he said the city couldn’t sustain that.

He said the city has been through a dry spell and people have been watering their yards.

&uot;We can’t schedule the rain,&uot; Lucas said.