HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Water use in Hutchinson is staying about normal for this time of year despite the dry, hot weather.

According to figures released by Hutchinson Public Works, the city is using an average of 6.2 million gallons of water daily so far this month. That compares to just over 7 million gallons per day at this time last year.

Whether it was the sudden warm weather in May, or the cold snap in April that delayed anyone getting out in the garden, water usage for that month was well above last year. In May, the average water use for the city was 5.9 million gallons per day, compared with just 4.9 million in 2017.

During the cold months, the city uses an average of 4.3 million gallons of water per day. In the summer months, that average increases to around 6.5 million gallons.

During the drought in 2012, the city was pumping an average of more than 9 million gallons of water a day out of the R.O. plant during the summer months.