Nick Janakievski of Crown Point waters the grass at home Thursday evening. | Jeffrey D. Nicholls~Sun-Times Media

Nick Janakievski of Crown Point waters the grass at home Thursday evening. | Jeffrey D. Nicholls~Sun-Times Media

A sprinkler waters parched grass outside Edison Elementary School in Hammond, Ind. Friday June 15, 2012. A lack of recent rain has left many yards and plants thirsty for relief. | Stephanie Dowell~Sun-Times Media

"This is like August weather," said Sandy Fulka as she watered plants in her Griffith, Ind. front yard Thursday June 14, 2012. "Oh, I water every day. Maybe twice a day. Got to. Otherwise, my flowers wouldn't survive." | Stephanie Dowell~Sun-Times Media

"We sacrificed one for the other, " said homeowner Jay Simmons (right) referring to daily sprinkler watering of new sod in the easement and not watering the rest of the yard much to avoid a huge water bill at his home in Griffith, Ind. Thursday June 14, 2012. The three-week-old, daily-watered sod is healthy and green, whereas a lack of significant rain recently has led to the rest of the yard beginning to parch. | Stephanie Dowell~Sun-Times Media

Jay Simmons keeps an eye on his dogs Ralphie (left) and Reggie (partially hidden) as he waters new sod in the easement (foreground) in Griffith, Ind. Thursday June 14, 2012. A lack of significant rain recently has led to his main yard begining to become parched (background) as he concentrates water usage on the three-week-old sod (foreground) to avoid an even higher water bill. | Stephanie Dowell~Sun-Times Media