The village off Ruidoso is warning residents that the mountain community's reservoirs are nearly empty due to the drought and the effects of a devastating wildfire.
The problem is last year's Little Bear Fire severely damaged the watershed that supplies runoff to the community's two reservoirs. The reservoirs have been unable to capture enough water as a result.
The village's storage tanks are 82 percent full, but officials say until vegetation returns to the charred mountainsides, the village must rely on its wells for water.
Ruidoso says it's launching an aggressive water conservation campaign.
Under the current restrictions, residents can't water their lawns unless they have a private well. Fruit trees and vegetables can only be watered by hand by placing water in the bib around the tree or plant.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.