Water Restrictions

Citizens are encouraged to contact their water provider for the most
up-to-date information on restrictions and schedules in their area.

Schedule • Additional Info • What is Drought Level 4? • Exceptional Uses

Dekalb/Gwinnett Outdoor Watering Schedule
(See Below for County Restrictions)

Dekalb and Gwinnett Restrictions

A) Residents and property owners irrigating existing lawn or landscape

• Allowed 25 minutes per day, by hand, 3 days per week on even-odd schedule, midnight to 10:00am
• Dekalb - only for plants - existing lawns are not allowed

B) Residents and property owners irrigating lawn and landscape that they restored themselves

• Allowed 3 days per week on even-odd schedule, midnight to 10:00am, if registered, ending after 10 weeks
• Dekalb - excluding aeration and over seeding

C) Residents and property owners irrigating lawn and landscape restored or reconditioned by professionals

• Allowed 3 days per week on even-odd schedule, midnight to 10:00am, if registered, ending after 10 weeks
• Dekalb - excluding aeration and over seeding

D) Residents and property owners irrigate new lawn and new landscape installed by professional firm

• Allowed 3 days per week on even-odd schedule, midnight to 10:00am, if registered, ending after 10 weeks
• Dekalb - only 1 new landscaping installation in 2008 will be allowed per property. Back to Top

Georgia Drought Information
Updated December 30, 2008

Much of North Georgia remains at Drought Level 4 and at Level 4 Variances. Variances to Drought Level 4 have been approved for several utilities. Please see table included in this document for listing of counties/cities who have received variances. Complete variance information can be found at www.gawp.org

The following is allowed under Level 4 Drought Restrictions:

Established landscapes can be hand-watered by any person

• For 25 minutes between 12:00 midnight and 10:00 a.m. (*defined as one person with one garden house with a spray nozzle that shuts off automatically when it is released)
• Restricted to the hours of 12:00 midnight to 10:00 a.m.
• Odd-numbered addresses: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays
• Even-numbered addresses: Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays

Newly installed landscapes may be watered

• By any person who has registered with the Outdoor Water Use Registration Program – must receive new certificate after first 10 weeks expires.
• For all new landscape installaion – a new certificate must be obtained
• property owner must re-register and take the program even if they received certificate for earlier planting in 2008.

• Allowed for 30 days during a period of 10 weeks
• Restricted to the hours of 12:00 midnight to 10:00 a.m.
• 3 days/week for 10 consecutive weeks on an odd/even schedule
• Odd-numbered addresses: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays
• Even-numbered addresses: Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays
• During installation, new landscapes are allowed at any time of the day
• Installed irrigation systems may be used only for new landscape installation area.

Outdoor Water Use Registration Program is available:

• At your county extension service office (1-800-ASK-UGA1) – Please call ahead for an appointment! There is no fee for the program if taken at extension service office.
• Online at www.urbanagcouncil.com - $ 4.95 convenience fee charge
• Each landscape company needs to register for this program (may copy certificate for use at multiple addresses).
• Each landscape company’s clients (homeowner/property owner or manager) must also complete this program for each property they own or manage. Back to Top

December 9, 2008

1) What is a Level IV Drought Response?

In 2003, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division and the Pollution Prevention
Assistance Division developed the first Drought Management Plan for Georgia. The Plan
consists of predrought mitigation strategies and drought response strategies. There are
four levels of drought response, which are implemented according to the severity of drought conditions.

In Level IV, NO outdoor use is allowed, other than for activities exempted in 391330. 05 of the Rules for Outdoor Water Use, as the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) Director may order, or as otherwise provided for in House Bill 1281 as adopted by the 2008 General Assembly and signed by the Governor on May 17, 2008.

Many counties in North Georgia are designated in the Level IV Drought Response; however, this broad geographic area varies greatly - even between systems that are adjacent to each other. Therefore, EPD developed a rigorous tool to predict the amount available to a system and availability is compared to worse case drought scenarios (generally Summer 2007). Using this tool, EPD subdivided Level IV into specific, relaxed subcategories represented by Levels IVa, IVb and IVc (see box below). Providers that do not withdraw directly from Lake Lanier or the Chattahoochee River between Buford and Peachtree Creek may petition EPD for authorization to impose these more relaxed restrictions on outdoor use. Back to Top

2) What uses are exempted and therefore allowed by Section 391330.05 of the Outdoor Water Use Rule?

• Capture and reuse of cooling system condensate or storm drainage in compliance with applicable local ordinances.
• Reuse of gray liquid in compliance with applicable local ordinances.
• Use of reclaimed waste by a designated user from a system permitted by EPD.
• Irrigation of personal food gardens.
• Circulation and aeration for ponds or fountains, which maintain aquatic life.
• Accepted to wash hard surfaces, such as streets, gutters, sidewalks driveways, school buses, fire trucks, emergency vehicles and police cars ONLY when necessary for public health and safety.
• Used to mix and spread pesticides and herbicides.
• Landscape professionals who hold a valid business license may use for hydroseeding a lawn.
• Landscape and irrigation contractors who hold a valid business license may use during installation of irrigation equipment and as needed for proper maintenance and adjustments only.
• Sod producers, food and fiber producers, ornamental growers, fruit and vegetable growers, nurseries and retail garden centers may use to for their stock.
• Powerwashing contractors who hold a valid business license may use to run their powerwashing equipment for customers.
• Construction sites.
• Commercial car wash operations.
• Other activities essential to daily business (This exemption refers to activities that are part of a primary operation of a business. For example, a window washing business or a mobile car wash business is included in this category). Back to Top

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