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Georgia Water Ban For Contractors |
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Water Restrictions Georgia
State Declares Level 4 Drought
The director of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) has declared a Level Four drought response across the northern third of the state, including the Atlanta metropolitan area. Effective immediately, most types of outdoor residential water use are prohibited.
“During a year of average rainfall, water levels in Georgia’s large reservoirs such as Lanier and Allatoona tend to drop in late summer and then recover as the winter rains arrive,” said State Climatologist David Stooksbury. “But the forecast calls for a dry, mild winter, and that could result in serious water supply problems by next spring.”
The following activities are exempted from the City of Atlanta’s new watering restrictions:
- Personal food gardens
- New landscaping installed by a certified or licensed landscaper. These newly installed landscapes may be watered any day of the week between the hours of 12:01 a.m. and 10 a.m. for a period of 30 days following installation. You have one exemption per year / per property. There is no longer a 30 day exemption for lawn areation and overseeding.
- Swimming pools (subject to change)
The following commercial outdoor water uses are exempt from watering restrictions:
- Professionally certified or licensed landscapers, golf course contractors, and sports turf landscapers: during installation and 30 days following installation only. Professional landscapers must be certified or licensed for commercial exemptions to apply.
- Irrigation contractors: during installation and as needed for proper maintenance and adjustments of irrigation systems and equipment only.
- Sod producers.
- Ornamental growers.
- Fruit and vegetable growers.
- Retail garden centers.
- Hydro-seeding.
- Power-washing.
- Construction sites.
- Producers of food and fiber.
- Car washes.
- Other activities essential to daily business.
- Watering-in of pesticides and herbicides on turf.
All other uses fall under the new service-area-wide restrictions which state:
City of Atlanta customers may not water outdoors. No outdoor watering is allowed until further notice. This service area includes the City of Atlanta, Sandy Springs and unincorporated South Fulton County.
These new restrictions are necessary due to continuing extreme drought conditions in North Georgia. Residents are asked to conserve water whenever possible.Local governments and water providers are authorized to implement more stringent outdoor water use schedules within their jurisdictions. For more information about water schedules in your area, contact your local water provider. For more information on water conservation and outdoor water use, please go to http://www.conservewatergeorgia.net State Rules
The Board of Natural Resources has adopted Rules for Outdoor Water Use, Chapter 391-3-30. Under the new rules, Georgians will be required to follow schedules for outdoor water use during both non-drought periods and during periods of declared drought. The rules are consistent with Section 4 (Drought Responses) of the Georgia Drought Management Plan, which the Board adopted in 2003.The rules apply to any entity, and its customers, permitted by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) for water withdrawal or for the operation of a public drinking water supply system.
Helpful Links
The Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District
Clean Water Campaign
Water Use It Wisely
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