HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — Water levels in the C.W. Bill Young Reservoir in Lithia are below max capacity, prompting officials to maintain water restrictions.

Tampa Bay Water Chief Science Officer Warren Hogg said the reservoir serves as a “water savings account” for the region.

During the dry months, the reservoir holds extra water that people can use.

Right now, the reservoir is at 2.47 billion gallons, well below the maximum capacity of 15.5 billion gallons.

As a result, the Southwest Florida Water Management District voted Tuesday to extend watering restrictions. Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas county residents can only water their lawns one day per week.

Hogg said the move will aid in helping store water for next year.

“Now that the summer rains are starting, it’s time to refill it,” Hogg said. “So we’re asking people to conserve water, because all of the water that they don’t use, we can store in the reservoir to get ready for next spring.”

Residents in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties will have to continue watering their lawn once a week until September 1.

Tampa Bay Water is the largest wholesale water supplier in Florida, providing high-quality drinking water to its members, who in turn, supply water to more than 2.5 million residents of the Tampa Bay area.

Tampa Bay Water member governments include Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties and the cities of New Port Richey, St. Petersburg and Tampa.