El Paso authorities are asking residents to voluntarily curtail water use for the next two weeks to try to prevent mandatory restrictions.

El Paso Water Utilities officials tell the El Paso Times (http://bit.ly/J8e53B) that the lack of water in the Rio Grande and forecasts for scorching temperatures are prompting the calls for people to curtail lawn watering and take shorter showers.

The Rio Grande accounts for half of the city's water supply and low water in the river has forced the shutdown of two treatment plants.

Utilities spokesman Martin Bartlett also is asking people to fix water leaks.

Officials set a goal of 125 million gallons of water use daily for May. That goal was met four days later week.