Ongoing drought leads Governor Nathan Deal to approve outdoor watering restrictions across state

Georgia Goveor Nathan Deal has approved restrictions on water use in more than 50 counties as a result of the state's ongoing drought.

Severe droughts across Georgia have lead Deal to approve the restrictions which are specifically directed at outdoor watering.

”During this prolonged period of severe drought in Georgia, we are bolstering the state’s drought response in more than 100 counties, Deal said. ”I would like to remind Georgians that there are specific guidelines and prohibitions to follow during a Level 1 and Level 2 Drought Response. We urge these communities to act accordingly, use good judgment and avoid outdoor buing and watering while we continue to work with the EPD and pray for rain across the state.

Prohibited outdoor water uses under the new restrictions include:

• Washing hard surfaces such as streets and sidewalks.
• Water for oamental purposes, such as fountains.
• The use of fire hydrants, except for firefighting and public safety.
• Non-commercial washing of vehicles.
• Non-commercial pressure washing.
• Fundraising car washes.

During a Level 2 Drought Response, even-numbered addresses and properties without numbered addresses may water outdoors on Wednesday and Saturday between 4:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. Odd-numbered addresses may water Thursday and Sunday between 4:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m.

The 52 counties under the Level 2 drought response: Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Athens-Clarke, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Dade, Dawson, DeKalb, Douglas, Fannin, Fayette, Floyd, Forsyth, Fulton, Gilmer, Gordon, Gwinnett, Habersham, Hall, Haralson, Harris, Heard, Henry, Jackson, Lamar, Lumpkin, Meriwether, Monroe, Morgan, Murray, Newton, Oconee, Paulding, Pickens, Pike, Polk, Rockdale, Spalding, Troup, Union, Upson, Walker, Walton, White and Whitfield.

50 more counties are now under a level 1 drought response: Baker, Baldwin, Bibb, Bleckley, Calhoun, Chattahoochee, Clay, Columbia, Crawford, Crisp, Decatur, Dooly, Dougherty, Early, Elbert, Franklin, Glascock, Greene, Hancock, Hart, Houston, Jasper, Jefferson, Jones, Laurens, Lee, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, Marion, McDuffie, Miller, Mitchell, Muscogee, Oglethorpe, Peach, Pulaski, Putnam, Quitman, Rabun, Randolph, Richmond, Schley, Seminole, Stephens, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taliaferro, Taylor, Terrell, Towns, Twiggs, Warren, Washington, Webster, Wilkes and Wilkinson.