Residents have been urged to restrict their fresh water usage as a Government reservoir has been closed for the past two days.

There are long waits for water regardless of your need. Even people with a tank completely dry should expect to wait at least four days, and in many instances waiting times are as long as ten days.

One water trucker who spoke with The Royal Gazette yesterday said the situation has become "a crisis".

The long waits are a direct result of lower than average rainfall and Government regulating the amount taken from the fresh-water lens.

The Bermuda Weather Service yesterday said that so far this year 21.40 inches of rain has fallen. The norm is 25.24 inches. June has been particularly dry, with almost two inches measured against a monthly average of 5.03 inches.

Duty Officer James Morrison at the Weather Service said that May rainfall was in line with the average while April and March each saw about an inch less than usual. January and February saw slightly higher rainfall levels. January rainfall was recorded .20 inches above the norm and February .09 inches above.

The dry conditions have led to increased demand from the Government reservoirs which tap the water lens. Government last month issued an advisory to conserve water and yesterday it renewed its call.

Low water levels in the Prospect catchment facility led Government to close it at 5 p.m. on Sunday and it remained closed Monday and yesterday.

A release from Government said that water truckers still had access to reservoirs in St. George's and Port Royal but one trucker said the St. George's facility was also closed yesterday.

"All the Government outlets have been working on limited hours since about May 24," said trucker Brett Michelson. "They open from 7.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and close at night. Prior to this we had unlimited access."

Mr. Michelson said that truckers go " wherever we can" to get water to deliver but added that many rely solely on the Government reservoirs.

"I am not as desperate as some," he said. "Right now I can deliver."

However, last night Mr. Michelson's waiting list was up to 45 loads, which he said meant he would not get to any new callers until next week.

In addition, most truckers will not sell more than two loads: "We have to stretch it out so that others can have," he said.

Another trucker who depends entirely on the Government reservoirs, refused to be named out of fear there would be reprisals.

The upset man said that Government should have invested in a desalination plant long ago.

"Why aren't Government getting plants to make fresh water from saltwater instead of putting money into fast ferries, when we already have ferries," he said.