The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) issued a Level 1 Drought Response declaration due to worsening drought conditions across the state of Georgia.
Fannin County is currently listed as a category D2 or Severe Drought, which lists small streams drying up and rivers being very low as some of the key impacts.
According to a statement released by EPD, the declaration means “utilities in 103 counties will be required to begin a public information campaign to help citizens better understand drought, its impact on water supplies and the need for water conservation.”
The federal government’s drought monitor notes that the entire state has been affected in some way by the drought, which means most of the counties will be required follow Level 1 Drought Response requirements.
“This serves as a reminder for all Georgians to use water wisely,” EPD Director Richard Dunn said. “It also gives public water systems an opportunity to educate their customers on the importance of water conservation.”
Level 1 Drought Response requires water utilities to circulate drought and water conservation information in one or more of the following: newspaper advertisements, water bill inserts, website homepages, social media and notices posted in public libraries.
The outdoor water use schedule required under the Water Stewardship Act of 2010 also remains in place. The schedule dictates that outdoor water use can be used between 4 p.m. and 10 a.m. Multiple exceptions to this apply. The following can be done at any time of day under a Level 1 Drought Response:
• Irrigation of personal food gardens may be done at any time of day;
• Irrigation of new and replanted plant, seed, or turf may be done at any time of day for 30 days after installation;
• Drip irrigation or irrigation using soaker hoses may be done at any time of day; and
• Hand watering with a hose with automatic cutoff or handheld container may be done at any time of day.
EPD officials said, “Public water systems may not impose restrictions on outdoor watering that are different from state requirements unless they obtain a variance from EPD.”