Level Four Drought Response Continues For Most of
North Georgia
Adapted from a Georgia DNR Press Release - May 6,
2008
With extreme drought conditions stretching across the northern third of
Georgia and a forecast for a dry summer, the Georgia Environmental
Protection Division (EPD) has announced that level four outdoor watering
restrictions will remain in place for EPD permitted utilities and local
governments in 55 counties. However, the level four restrictions will be
lifted in six counties where drought conditions have improved and replaced
with level two watering restrictions.
“Winter rain and rising lake levels bring us hope, but citizens should
not be fooled into thinking the drought is over,” said EPD Director Carol
A. Couch. “We are in better shape than last fall, but we need to continue
to manage our water supply to get us through the long hot summer.”
The announcement was made today following a meeting of the State
Drought Response Committee. A Level Four Drought Response prohibits most
types of outdoor water use. However Director Couch said that utilities and
local governments in the level four counties that do not rely on Lake
Lanier and water releases directly from Buford Dam will be allowed to
petition for a modified drought response.
“Many local governments have been proactive in making improvements in
their water systems,” said Director Couch. “As a result, they are better
prepared for drought and the petition process offers some flexibility in
how water is managed at the local level.”
Director Couch said a reduction in water releases from lakes Allatoona
and Lanier helped raise water levels and she also credited effective water
conservation. Under Governor Perdue’s directive, most north Georgians
reduced their water use by at least 10 percent from November 2007 through
March 2008. The directive expired on March 30.
An EPD analysis of summer water use shows that enforcement of the level
four water restrictions combined with voluntary water conservation should
achieve a water savings of at least ten percent, so the state directive is
no longer in effect, said Director Couch.
The level four drought response area includes Banks, Barrow, Bartow,
Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clarke, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta,
Dade, Dawson, Dekalb, Douglas, Elbert, Fannin, Fayette, Floyd, Forsyth,
Franklin, Fulton, Gilmer, Gordon, Gwinnett, Habersham, Hall, Haralson,
Hart, Heard, Henry, Jackson, Lincoln, Lumpkin, Madison, Meriwether,
Morgan, Murray, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Paulding, Pickens, Polk,
Rabun, Rockdale, Stephens, Towns, Troup, Union, Walker, Walton, White,
Whitfield, and Wilkes counties.
Under a declared Drought Response Level Four, most types of outdoor
water use is prohibited with some commercial exemptions. In addition, the
EPD Director has ordered exemptions to allow the filling of swimming pools
and some limited landscape watering. • Hand watering will be allowed for
25 minutes per day on an odd-even schedule between midnight and 10 a.m.
Odd numbered addresses can water on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Even
numbered addresses can water Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Hand watering
is defined as one person with one garden hose. • New landscape can be
watered up to three days a week from midnight to 10 a.m. for a period of
10 weeks based on the odd/even schedule. • Anyone wishing to water new
landscape must register with the Outdoor Water Use Registration Program.
The program is hosted on the Urban Agricultural Council web site at
www.urbanagcouncil.com.
Georgians may also contact their county extension agents for assistance in
getting registered.
More information about the drought and water conservation can be found
at
www.conservewatergeorgia.net and
www.georgiadrought.org.
