The Suffolk County Water Authority is urging East End residents to conserve water as hot and dry weather continues.

They have declared a water emergency in the towns of Southampton, Easthampton, Southold and Shelter Island. This means there might not be enough water to put out some fires during an emergency.

"When you have this kind of shortage, it makes you concerned," says Southampton Fire Chief Alfred Callahan. "When you pull up, does that hydrant have enough water in it?"

The emergency declaration comes after Gov. Kathy Hochul declared Long Island to be in a state of drought.

Officials say nearly 70% of water is going onto people's lawns. They are calling on homeowners to stop watering their lawns from midnight to 7 a.m. to ensure water will be available for emergency services.

"It is putting homeowners and our firefighters and everybody else who relies on access to water to deal with an emergency at risk," says Suffolk County Water Authority chairman Patrick Halpin.

Halpin also says people can water their grass every other day instead of every day.

"If we don't have their cooperation, somebody could lose their life when the fire department is unable to respond with everything, they need to put that fire out," Halpin says.

Water authority officials will be looking into residents who are not complying and go door-to-door, urging them to make the change. They could levy a $250 fine.