High temperatures and low water pressure have led Fresno State officials Monday to take conservation steps.

Two of five wells at California State University, Fresno, are out of service. A sixth was expected to be in service already, but awaits testing for purity. The water tower on the north side of campus is holding about 50,000 gallons out of its 156,000-gallon capacity.

"We had planned to have a new, bigger well online by April," said Dave Moll, Fresno State's public safety director.

"Here we are, and we're still waiting for it. It's operational, but we can't tie it in for two or three more weeks because we have to wait for water test results."

Although far fewer students are on campus in the summer, the loss of 40% of the university's wells causes problems in the heat. One of the two wells out of service showed signs of iron contamination. Oil showed up in the other.

The university does not disclose the locations of its wells, but the sixth one will help supply the southeast portion of campus, including the Save Mart Center.

"In an 18,000-seat arena, you have a lot of toilets to flush," Moll said.

Bulldog Stadium on the campus' west side has its designated well, too.

"Once we get the new well online, we will be OK," Moll said.

Although Fresno State's water system is capable of linking to the city of Fresno's system, the campus is at the "end of the line" in the city system, Moll says, and wouldn't receive sufficient water pressure from it.

As it is, students in campus dormitories may already notice reduced water pressure from shower heads. The system is supplying about 43 pounds per square inch compared with a normal of about 60 pounds.

Robert Boyd, Fresno States' director of facilities, said the university will conserve water mainly by cutting back sprinkler times.

Fresno State has no plans now to issue tickets for wasteful water use, he said.

The National Weather Service counts 16 days of temperatures of at least 100 degrees so far this summer in the Fresno area.

Martin McIntyre, the city's public utilities director, said it is common for smaller water systems, such as Fresno State's, to suffer pressure drops when one or two wells go out of service.

The university is using virtually all of the water it pumps from its wells, so it cannot replenish its water tower. As a result, the campus loses the usual water pressure it gets from the power of gravity, water falling from the elevated tower.