With daytime temperatures regularly in the 90s and grass already starting to turn a little bit yellow, Fort Dodge officials are asking residents and businesses to conserve water.

A request for voluntary steps to conserve water was issued Thursday afternoon.

The city offered tips for conserving water outdoors and indoors.

Outdoors

• Try to reduce the amount of water used on lawns by half.

• Water lawns early in the morning.

• Do not use water on sidewalks or driveways.

• When washing vehicles, turn on the hose only for rinsing.

• If you have a pool or hot tub, maintain proper chemical levels and adequate circulation times.

• Install a solar cover on the pool to reduce evaporation

Indoors

• Turn off the water while brushing your teeth.

• Take shorter showers.

• Do not let the water run while washing hands.

• Ice left in the glass? Dump it on a plant instead of down the drain.

• Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap.

• Only run the dishwasher and washing machine when they are full.

Fort Dodge city officials asked for voluntary water conservation last summer, but that request came later in the season in mid-July.

Webster County and all of its surrounding counties are considered to be in a moderate drought, according to the National Drought Mitigation Center.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources reported that last month statewide average precipitation was more than an inch below normal.