Shelby County is asking its retail and wholesale water customers to follow a new schedule in an attempt to offset low supply due to recent hot weather and high water usage.

The plan was announced by County Manager Alex Dudchock at Monday&8217;s county commission meeting.

&8220;We need to have a scheduling plan relative to what we have happening right now,&8221; Dudchock said, &8220;that is, the amount of dry weather we&8217;ve had.&8221;

The county&8217;s retail customers, concentrated mostly along the Highway 280 corridor near Greystone, Eagle Point and Chelsea, were asked to refrain from all outdoor watering yesterday and today.

Beginning tomorrow, June 15, customers are asked to water grass no longer than one hour according to the following schedule: addresses with even numbers water on Monday and Thursday; addresses with odd numbers water on Tuesday and Friday.

The schedule remains in effect until

Oct. 1.

Major wholesale customers were asked to adopt their own two-day watering schedules.

&8220;Our storage capacity decreases and then it takes time to build back up,&8221; Dudchock said. &8220;With all the activity in our water-usage area, that&8217;s where we&8217;ve got to be aggressive.&8221;

Dudchock said the county is working to provide water to its customers, including plans to purchase water from the Birmingham Water Works Board