A stretch of dry summer weather is reviving concerns about high water consumption on Long Island and the consequences in the near and long term, with the Suffolk County Water Authority "imploring" people to stop watering lawns altogether.

Staff has gone door-to-door in areas where water supplies are especially "stressed" — Bay Shore, Kings Park, Selden, Southold and Montauk — "letting people know about the steps they can take to conserve," spokesman Dan Dubois said.

Water authorities and environmental advocates agree that conservation measures are needed to preserve water supplies for critical uses like firefighting and to ensure the aquifer remains at healthy levels. But that could run afoul of the green lawn, a longtime suburban symbol that residents work hard to achieve.

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