Last year in mid-June the city was using 162 million gallons of water. This year in mid-June we were using about 154 million gallons.

The water company also says outdoor watering is the main source of water consumption in the summer months. Watering outdoors is nothing new for Jeff Gates of the Painted Dunes Golf Course.

"My water bill last year was $240,000. This year it will be $220,000 maybe, hopefully," Gates said.

Gates also said the golf course tries to water later at night in order to avoid the summer sun.

Many El Pasoans have given up on grass altogether and are turning to xeriscaping. Landscaping without grass may also contribute to lower water usage.

Gates said Painted Dunes also uses reclaimed water to try and cut down on water use. "It comes in to us. We put it in our ponds and we pump it out of our ponds ," Gates said.

The city has saved 8 million gallons of water from this time last year. That's enough water for 160,000 baths.