WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Ill.--A local water district manager asks his customers to do something that goes against his very nature: quit using so much of the product he sells.

Turns out the drought is drying up the district's only water source, and demand is way up.

His customers must use less water until we get some serious rain.

Right now he's only asking. The next step is demanding.

Lake Egypt isn't only used to provide drinking water to thousands of Southern Illinois customers, it's also used to cool turbines at the Southern Illinois Power Cooperative. Both utilities have agreed the water level is now so low, everyone has to take action.

Ursula Simpkins lives on Lake Egypt and it's the lowest she's ever seen.

"Nothing like rain, nothing like rain," Simpkins said.

This year's there's been little of it. She had been using a pump to pull water from the lake and water her plants, but not anymore because the lake is too low for the pump to work.

Lake Egypt Water District Manager Perry Musgrave made a big request on Thursday.

"We're asking everyone that's pumping out of the lake to quit," Musgrave said.

In fact, he's asking all customers to cut back on water.

"Right now it's more important for us to have drinking water for everybody than it is to have a pretty flower or pretty garden right now," Musgrave said.

If demand doesn't go down soon, prices will likely go up.

"You hope, I look everyday I look on the weather it has to rain it has to rain but it doesn't," Musgrave said.

Until it does, Simpkins agrees it's only sensible to make drastic cuts to prevent a bad situation from getting worse.

"We have no choice that's what we have to do I don't care if the car is clean or not clean," Simpkins said.

The problem reaches beyond the Lake Egypt Water District, Musgrave said they supply water to six other area water districts. If the Lake of Egypt water level continues to decrease, customers could pay one two dollars more per thousand gallons a month.

This serves as a good reminder, we should all be conserving water no matter where we live.

Here are some great ways to save water and money too:

Don't wash vehicles or equipment, if you must, use car washes that use less water.
Don't let kids play with the water hose or sprinklers just for fun.
Use a broom instead of a hose to clean outdoor surfaces.
Check faucets for leaks.
Water outdoor plants with a watering can, not a free flowing hose.
Be mindful of water usage when brushing your teeth and taking showers.