State loosens watering restrictions; it’s back to odd-even days, midnight-10 a.m.; explicit rules below

The drought may not be officially over, but Fayette County’s lawns and shrubs should be a little greener this summer.

On Monday, the county was notified by EPD Director Carol Couch that the county’s category for water use was changed to a Level 4c use.

The change went into place June 10 and allows county residents to go back to an odd-even basis, three days per week.

Residents with odd addresses can water Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from midnight-10 a.m., while even-numbered addresses can water the same hours Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

The letter from Couch makes clear that certain uses are still prohibited, including:

• Using public fire hydrants for purposes other than firefighting, public health, safety or flushing.

• Washing hard surfaces, such as streets, gutters, sidewalks and driveways except when necessary for public safety.

Filling of swimming pools is also allowed, without any restriction on days or time.

The new category will remain in place until Dec. 31, 2008 or until otherwise ordered.

Here is a text of a press release issued Wednesday morning by Fayette County:

The Fayette County Board of Commissioners was greeted on Tuesday with a response from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) concerning the county’s petition to be granted a modification to current outdoor water use restrictions.

Last month, following the signing of House Bill 1281 by Governor Perdue, entities holding water-related permits in 61 drought-stricken North Georgia became eligible to petition the Environmental Protection Division of DNR for a “Drought Response Modification” which could result in a lessening of outdoor watering restrictions imposed by that agency as the drought increased in severity.

The news concerning the petition filed by Fayette County comes as a relief to the County Commissioners.

Board Chairman, Jack Smith, said [June 11], “Based on the soundness of our water system and the diligent monitoring of our water resources, we had every reason to believe that DNR would approve our petition.

"Nevertheless, given the severity of the drought North Georgia has endured over the past year, it was indeed a relief to receive Dr. Couch’s letter today,” Smith said.

According to the letter received from Dr. Carol Couch, director of the Environmental Protection Division of the DNR to Chairman Smith, “Under Level IVc, all outdoor water uses are allowed on an odd/even basis, three days per week between midnight and 10 a.m.

"Odd addresses may water on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays; even addresses on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays."

Watering on Fridays is still prohibited.

The letter makes further reference to exemptions to watering restrictions included in EPD’s Rules for Outdoor Water Use.

Section 391-3-30 of the rules allows such outdoor uses as watering personal food gardens, washing cars or home exteriors, the watering of newly installed landscapes any day of the week during the allowed hours (midnight to 10 o’clock a.m.) for a period of 30 days, and the watering of professionally installed landscaping under commercial provisions.

The letter does specify, however, that using fire hydrants for any purpose other than public safety purposes or flushing is still prohibited, as is the washing of hard surfaces such as streets, gutters, sidewalks, and driveways except when necessary for public health and safety.

The Level IVc drought response modification will be in effect until Dec. 31, 2008, or until otherwise withdrawn by the Department of Natural Resources.

Chairman Smith said further, “I have complete confidence that our citizens and businesses will continue to diligently follow all watering restrictions and avoid wasteful use of our most valuable natural resource.

"I believe we all understand drinking water is of limited supply and we should never do anything to jeopardize its availability for our citizens. We will continue to carefully monitor our water supply and evaluate our options so we are prepared for whatever conditions arise in the future,” Smith said.