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Water use is limited in drought By Judy Salter, EditorThe City of Hartwell is complying with the water use requirements declared June 21 by Carol A. Couch, director of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division Couch declared a Level One drought, which is the least sever drought, but which adds to restrictions the state imposed the last two years. Up until last week, citizens were supposed to observe even/odd watering days. With the Level One declaration, those days now include certain times for watering. Pat Goran, executive director of the Hart County Water and Sewer Authority, said county water users must also observe the day and time restrictions. The organization adopted a three-level water use fine policy July 19, 2004. The first violation by an authority customer will result in a written warning, he said. On the second violation, the customer is assessed a $25 fine and another written warning. The service is disconnected if a third warning is issued. It costs $35 to reconnect. “I think most people comply,” Goran said. “I really think many people do not know about the restrictions.” In a release, Couch stated, “We have studied conditions around the state and our findings show that drought conditions exist throughout Georgia. It's important that citizens conserve water now to help ensure there is a sufficient water supply in the coming months.” The restrictions will hold, even though the Hart County area has received rain in the last week. The U.S. Corps of Engineers Web site reports only 3.97 inches between June 6 and June 28. Although the state allows local governments to impose more stringent watering schedules, Mayor Matt Beasley urged all Hartwell residents to comply with the statewide outdoor watering schedule in an effort to conserve water supplies. County Administrator Jon Caime said recent rains “came too quickly and most of the rain ran off before it could soak the ground really well.” The rain might help lake levels, but what the county needs, he said, “is a steady rain for several days to help get water deeper into the ground especially due to the large number of water wells in the County. These wells draw upon groundwater and that water comes from sources such as water entering into the ground.” The drought declaration was made following a meeting of the State Drought Response Committee. The Committee includes representatives from several state, federal and local agencies, as well as universities and non-government organizations. The release explained the EPD director, working with State Climatologist David Stooksbury, consults with the committee members and then determines whether a drought declaration is appropriate. “We monitor stream flows, lake levels, precipitation, groundwater levels and other climatic indicators,” said Stooksbury. “It's clear that conditions have worsened over most of the state during the past several weeks.” According to the release, EPD will continue to monitor conditions statewide and issue revised drought declarations as necessary. A Level One drought declaration places hourly limits on outdoor water use. The new outdoor watering schedules statewide are as follows: € Odd-numbered addresses may water on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays- midnight to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to midnight. € Even-numbered and unnumbered addresses may water on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays - midnight to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to midnight. More information about the outdoor water use schedules can be found on the EPD Web site at www.gaepd.org <http://www.gaepd.org/> . To learn more about water conservation, please go to the EPD Water Conservation Web site at www.conservewatergeorgia.net <http://www. conservewatergeorgia.net/> . Detailed information on the drought can be found at www.georgiadrought.org <http://www. georgia drought. org/> . For further information or more specific guidance for local water use rules, citizens may contact the office of the Mayor at 706-376-4756. judysalter@hartcom.net
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