Go ahead and wash your car, water your lawn and take an extra long shower.

On Tuesday, the Cullman County Commission approved lifting water restrictions — returning customers to normal water usage — as Lake Catoma recovers with the help of recent rainfall.

Cullman County Water Department Manager Randall Waldrep said the lake has risen to 8.5-9 feet below full pool due to rain showers. During the worst of the drought in 2016, the lake — the area’s only drinking water source — had fallen to around 23 feet below full pool, triggering utilities to ration water.

The county enacted tighter water restrictions in mid-November that prohibited outdoor watering or washing of vehicles and asked water customers to check for leaks and report any immediately. Establishments weren’t allowed to provide drinking water to customers unless requested.

In January, as the lake continued to dry up, the county asked customers to reduce their water usage to 85 percent. Fortunately, the past month has seen multiple rounds of showers that has replenished Lake Catoma, prompting Tuesday’s vote to lift the restrictions.

Still, as of Feb. 7, nearly 70 percent of the county was experiencing severe drought, according to the most recent U.S. Drought Monitor report. And the rest of the county remains either in a moderate drought or abnormally dry.

The worst of this year’s drought occurred at the end of November when nearly half the county was in exception drought — the most severe designation. Only 2000, 2007 and 2008 saw worse and more widespread drought conditions. In 2007, Lake Catoma dropped to 26 feet below full pool.

The Cullman County Water Department is the state’s third largest water service system, providing drinking water to more than 14,000 customers in Cullman, Morgan, Walker and Winston counties.

In other business Tuesday, the Cullman County Commission:

* Heard public comment from Dawn Owens with The Link of Cullman County who requested consideration for appropriation to fund the non-profits services, which include school mentors to help students with reading and other curriculum and teenagers with financial literacy through its Wise Up program. Owens said of the 2,800 individuals the agency provided services to last year, 1,800 were from the county. Chairman Kenneth Walker said the commission would consider the request for its 2018 budget.

* Approved minutes from Jan. 24 meeting, appropriations, expenditures, payroll, requisitions and all journal entries to be posted.

* Ratified City of Cullman’s $2.5 million abatement for Reliance Worldwide Corp. for building and equipment.

* Approved Emergency Evacuation Plan fro dam failure and flood for Lewis Smith Dam. EMA Director Phyllis Little said this plan has been in the works for the past year, with multiple agencies working together. It will now go on to municipalities for review and approval.

* Authorized Walker and Little to sign state allocation for $2,342 emergency management performance grant (EMPG).

* Authorized Walker to sign memorandum of agreement with Government Services & Associates for audits of personal property accounts selected by the Cullman County Revenue Commissioner for $16,500.

* Entered into contract with Banner Industrial Construction, Inc. for the construction of the South Pedestrian Footbridge at Duck River for $204,508. A separate bid for the steel beams for the project was previously awarded, Walker said. The county received a $100,000 grant for the project, with the City of Cullman Water Utilities Board picking up the remaining estimated cost of around $162,000, Walker said.

* Authorized signing of an agreement with Post Panda Promotions, LLC to book and pay all of the entertainment for the three summer festivals at Smith Lake Park in 2017 (Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day) for $14,800 for all three events.

* Approved one-half of local matching funds for Library Services & Technology Act (LSTA) grant for RFID system for the Cullman County Library for $7,070.

* Approved Coroner Jeremy Kilpatrick’s request to purchase a 2016 Ford Police Interceptor all-wheel-drive utility vehicle off the state bid list through Stivers Ford for $26,523.

* Approved replacing 4-ton, 3-phase air conditioning unit for the Water Department’s main office with Bama Air Systems for $5,280.

* Approved replacing hydraulic elevator jack for the Economic Development/ Sales Tax Office by Bagby Elevator Service for $39,992. Walker said Bagby wasn’t the lowest bidder, but was just $1,900 more than the cheapest.

* Ratified emergency purchase of 60-pound capacity washer for detention center through Service South Laundry Equipment Sales for $10,748.

* Rescinded bid for micro-surfacing to Vance Brothers. There was an administrative defect with the bid, and the contract will be rebid, said County Engineer John Lang

* Extended bid for polypropylene pipe to Bear Concrete.

* Extended bid for computer equipment for 30 days.

* Awarded bid for resurfacing county roads with bituminous plant mix to low-bidder Good Hope Contracting.

* Awarded bid for bituminous plant mix (product only) to low-bidder Good Hope Contracting. Lang noted that in his 14 years in transportation planning, this was the first year asphalt costs have declined.

The county commission will hold a work session 8:30 a.m. Feb. 28, followed by its regular meeting at 10 a.m.