The National Weather Service has issued an alert of a moderate drought for the state of Virginia.

Limited rainfall this summer is having an effect on local water reservoirs, and one city's utilities department is putting plans in actions to make sure there is a large enough water supply.

Our forecasters say we have not had a significant rainfall for more than a month.

“Right now we are running at a deficit here in Norfolk and more down in northeastern North Carolina,” said 13News meteorologist Evan Stewart. “That's why we've been classified in this moderate drought situation.”

The effects of the drought can be seen in brown lawns and lower water levels.

The City of Portsmouth is seeing the impact and preparing for the worst.

“Our reservoir levels this morning were at 83%,” said Jim Spacek, Director of Utilities for the City of Portsmouth. “Normally they are at 92%.”

The city's Utility Department continues to ask residences to use water wisely during the summer months but now the department will ask City Council to set aside two million dollars to purchase water from the City of Norfolk.

“We aren't buying yet, but we want to make sure the money is there in case we need it,” said Spacek.

If needed the untreated water would be pumped through a pipeline connecting the two city's water sources.

Portsmouth's emergency plan would allow them to purchase up to 10 million gallons a day.

Water reservoirs in Norfolk have also seen levels slightly lower than normal, too, but Norfolk officials say they have enough if Portsmouth should need it.

“Norfolk does not depend solely on rain water to replenish our reservoirs,” said Melanie Pesola of the Department of Utilities for the City of Norfolk. “We are fortunate to have other rivers pumping stations an expansive water system that supplies us and keeps us in shape.”

The National Weather Services say the drought is also having a major impact on agriculture in the region.

At this point, it would actually take something like a tropical system to help us get out of the drought