Georgia EPD Bans Most Outdoor Water Use

A statement from Carol A. Couch, Ph.D., Director, Environmental Protection Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resources...

Georgia Department of Natural Resources

2 Martin Luther King Jr., Dr., Suite 1152 East Tower, Atlanta, Georgia 30334

Noel Holcomb, Commissioner

Carol A. Couch, Ph.D., Director

Environmental Protection Division

(404) 656-4713

For Immediate Release September 28, 2007

Citing Historic Drought, Georgia EPD Bans Most Outdoor Water Use in North Georgia

The director of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) has declared a level four drought response across the northern third of Georgia, including Roswell, which prohibits most types of outdoor residential water use effective immediately.

“The drought of 2007 has reached historic proportions, so it’s critical that we take immediate action to ensure that Georgians have a sufficient supply of safe drinking water,” said EPD Director Carol A. Couch. “All of the counties included in the level four declaration are located in areas of either exceptional or extreme drought.”

Due to worsening drought conditions in Georgia, the Director of the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) has declared a level four drought response for the northern third of the state. A level four drought response prohibits most types of residential outdoor water use. The level four drought response was declared for all counties in north Georgia from Muscogee County on the Alabama line northeastward to Spalding County, and eastward to Lincoln County on the South Carolina line. This area includes Roswell.

A level four drought response prohibits most types of outdoor water use, although the state does offer some exemptions for commercial uses. However, local governments and water utilities may impose more stringent watering schedules, so citizens should contact their local water providers for more specific guidance.

EPD Director Couch said drought conditions will continue to be monitored and revised drought response declarations will be issued as necessary.

More information about the outdoor water use schedules can be found on the EPD web site at www.georgiaepd.com. To learn more about water conservation, please go to the EPD Water Conservation web site at www.conservewatergeorgia.net. Detailed information on the drought can be found at www.georgiadrought.org.

RULES OF

GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DIVISION

CHAPTER 391-3-30

OUTDOOR WATER USE

(6) Declared Drought Response Level Four – No outdoor water use is allowed, other than for activities exempted in 391-3-30-.05, or as the EPD Director may order.

391-3-30-.05 Exemptions

(1) This rule shall not apply to the following outdoor water uses:

(a) Capture and re-use of cooling system condensate or storm water in compliance with applicable local ordinances

(b) Re-use of gray water in compliance with applicable local ordinances (Use of gray water is allowed, as long as gray water stays on owners property and does not create run-off onto adjacent properties)

(2) The following established landscape water uses are exempt from the outdoor water use schedules of this rule.

(a) Use of reclaimed wastewater by a designated user from a system permitted by EPD to provide reclaimed wastewater.

(b) Irrigation of personal food gardens. (During Drought Response Level 4, only personal food gardens, confined to the

specific food plant, such as tomatoes, carrots, corn, etc. can be watered during the hours of midnight to 10 am)

(3) Newly (in place less than thirty days) installed landscapes are subject to the following:

(a) Irrigation of brand new installed landscapes is allowed any day of the week, but only during allowed hours for the

drought response level in effect, for a period of 30 days following installation. No watering is allowed during Drought

Response Level Four. (During Drought Response Level 4, this exemption does not apply to reseeding, landscape

additions or retrofit work; applies only to initial landscape installation on newly developed properties and watering

allowed for up to 30 days on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday between the hours of midnight and 10 am).

(b) For new landscapes installed by certified or licensed professionals, commercial exemptions apply.

(4) The following golf course outdoor water uses are exempt from the outdoor water use schedules of this rule.

(a) Use of reclaimed wastewater by a designated user from a system permitted by EPD to provide reclaimed wastewater.

(b) Irrigation of fairways during times of non-drought and Declared Drought Response Level One.

(d) Irrigation of greens.

(5) The following commercial outdoor water uses are exempt from the outdoor water use schedules of this rule.

(a) 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.

(b) Irrigation contractors: during installation and as needed for proper maintenance and adjustments only.

(d) Ornamental growers.

(e) Fruit and vegetable growers.

(f) Retail garden centers.

(g) Hydro-seeding.

(h) Power-washing. (During Drought Response Level 4, power washing is only allowed in conjunction with full scale

external painting of a residential, institutional or commercial structure)

(i) Construction sites. (During Drought Response Level 4, water use at construction sites should be used only as required

for dust control and tire washing.)

(j) Producers of food and fiber.

(k) Car washes. (During Drought Response Level 4, car washes may operate if using recycled water only and car washes

that are not using recycled water must phase in over 6 month period to recycled water use beginning Dec. 1, 2007. Car

dealerships do not apply to this exemption.)

(l) Other activities essential to daily business. (During Drought Response Level 4, this exemption applies only on a case by

case basis and will be reviewed by the Director of Public Works or his designee)

(m) Watering-in of pesticides and herbicides on turf. (During Drought Response Level 4, watering allowed within 24 hours

of initial application and only 4 times/year and the watering-in time limit is 1 complete irrigation cycle (not to exceed

20 minutes per zone) with irrigation system or not to exceed 20 minutes with hose and nozzle between the hours of

midnight to 10 AM.

391-3-30-.06 Local and Regional Options

(1) Local and regional water providers are authorized to implement additional outdoor water use restrictions within their jurisdictions. Action items to consider at the local/regional level include, but are not limited to, the following: developing system integration and interconnection to reduce drought vulnerability, placing additional water use restrictions on specific commercial uses, putting water conservation based rates in place (increasing block/summer surcharge) and placing additional restrictions on outdoor water use.

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Please note: Under rule 391-3-30-.06 Local and Regional Options (below), the City of Roswell is "authorized to implement additional outdoor water use restrictions within their jurisdictions." That is, the City of Roswell is free to put in place restrictions that are more stringent than the state's, but cannot make these rules any less strict.

The City of Roswell has tightened the exemptions (in red) to the current EPD State Rule exemptions to further attempt to conserve as well as reduce the water use and demand by

Be sure to check Roswell restrictions which in some instances are more restrictive that the rules below...

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