RICHMOND -- An ongoing drought has prompted Gov. Tim Kaine to ask Virginians to limit water usage and urge cities and counties to update water conservation plans.

Kaine called for the voluntary conservation measures Tuesday, saying the state still has a long-term precipitation deficit despite last week's widespread rainfall. Kaine said drought conditions could become acute by spring if predictions of a dry winter are accurate.

Kaine urged residents and businesses to conserve water as much as possible, minimizing outdoor uses such as watering lawns and washing cars and also reducing indoor use.

Ensure "there are no water leaks in your home; limit showers to periods of less than 5 minutes; turn off the water when you brush your teeth; and only operate dishwashers and clothes washers with full loads," Kaine said in a statement released by his office.

Kaine said such actions "can result in a significant reduction in the stresses placed on our water resources."

State officials said Virginia is unlikely to experience serious water shortages before January. But if forecasts of a mild, drier-than-normal winter are accurate, a significant drought could develop by the beginning of the spring growing season.

Kaine asked local governments to prepare for that scenario by updating ordinances requiring mandatory water-use restrictions. He also urged localities that have not adopted ordinances to do so soon.

"The best drought responses are those that take into account the individual nature of water supplies and the users of those resources, and these must be developed at the local water system level," Kaine said. "We must use the window of opportunity that we have between now and the spring of 2008 to develop the best local response plans that we can."

Kaine already has acted to address the drought's impacts on farmers and forest land. The U.S. Department of Agriculture granted his request to declare the state an agricultural disaster area, making farmers eligible for federal assistance. The governor also has banned outdoor burning to reduce the risk of wildfires.