Saskatoon has asked residents to postpone watering lawns this week. (Reuters) Saskatoon is asking citizens to have fewer showers and quit watering lawns because a treatment plant malfunction has reduced the city's supply of drinking water.

Residents and businesses are asked to postpone lawn and garden watering until Friday and people also are asked to postpone washing clothes and reducing shower times.

The city said it needs to make emergency repairs to one of the clarifiers at the water treatment plant. Until repaired, the city cannot produce as much drinking water as usual.

The repairs do not affect Saskatoon's drinking water quality. The city says it will let everyone know when they can shower and water lawns again.