ORLANDO, Fla. — Last month, OUC said it was facing a liquid oxygen shortage because - while the company uses it to purify water - hospitals were seeing an increased demand to use it to treat COVID-19 patients in hospitals.
That forced the utility company to call on its water customers to cut back on their water usage immediately.
READ: OUC asking water customers to start conserving water immediately: Here’s why
According to OUC, customers are definitely listening. A spokesperson for OUC said they have seen at least a 15% reduction in water usage.
OUC said they are optimistic and are still asking customers to conserve water usage for at least a few more weeks.
READ: OUC sending robocalls to customers urging them to conserve water
OUC supplies water for 140,000 customers or about half a million people in the City of Orlando and unincorporated Orange County.
Company officials said irrigation accounts for about 40% of its consumption and they need to reduce that to help conserve its liquid oxygen supply.
OUC is asking water customers to stop watering their lawns, washing their cars, and pressure washing.
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