MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Officials have issued a Water Drop Alert in Milwaukee as severe weather has been forecast around the area.

The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District took to social media early Tuesday, April 4 to ask residents to take the following steps to conserve water during the rain event:

• Postpone washing dishes and doing laundry;
• Take shorter showers;
• Empty rain barrels;

MMSD noted that the efforts go towards reducing sewer overflows, protecting Lake Michigan and preventing water from entering basements.

To receive Water Drop Alerts via text message, residents can text "WATERDROP" to (414) 296-4422.