DOUGLASVILLE-DOUGLAS COUNTY

WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY

WATER RESTRICTION POLICY

EFFECTIVE APRIL 1, 2008

The Authority, at this time, shall continue to follow the State of Georgia’s Level IV Drought restrictions and exemptions, including their recently-allowed exemptions effective April 1, 2008.

WHAT THIS MEANS

·         Douglas County remains under a total outdoor water use ban.

·         The only change in Douglas County’s outdoor water use policy, at this time, is for the newly-added and/or modified State exemptions regarding pools and landscaping.

·         All other exemptions in place in Douglas County since July 1, 2007, are still in place.  (See also the original EPD exemptions at the end.)

STATE OF GEORGIA’s NEW EXEMPTIONS

No outdoor water use is allowed other than for activities specifically exempted in Section 391-3-30-.05 of the Georgia Rules for Outdoor Water Use and as further authorized below by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division:  (See also the original EPD exemptions at the end.)

                (a)           “The filling of installed pools is permitted.”

WHAT THIS MEANS:  Effective April 1, 2008, existing public and private pools (including in-ground, above-ground, vinyl and wading pools) will be permitted to open and can be topped off to maintain required water levels.  When possible, pools with filtration systems should not be drained for cleaning and maintenance prior to being opened, but rather debris should be removed and the pool treated using the proper chemicals.  Newly installed pools may be initially filled and topped off to maintain required water levels. 

                (b)           “Each household, business, or other institution/property owner will be allowed to hand water existing landscaping using one garden hose, 25 minutes a day, within the hours of 12:00 midnight to 10:00 a.m., on designated days.  The hose must be hand held during watering and equipped with a standard spray nozzle that automatically turns off when not hand held.  Odd-numbered addresses may hand water Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.  Even and unnumbered addresses may hand water Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.”

WHAT THIS MEANS:  Existing landscaping, which includes grass, shrubs, trees, and plants, may be hand watered only.  Hand watering means one person per address, using one hose with a shut off nozzle that automatically turns off when you let go of the handle, will be allowed to water for a total of 25 minutes per day, on the odd-even days and times listed above.

                (c)           “Newly installed landscaping may be watered up to three days a week within the hours of 12:00 midnight to 10:00 a.m. only for 10 consecutive weeks and during plant installation.  Odd-numbered addresses may water newly installed landscaping Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.  Even and unnumbered addresses may water newly installed landscaping Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.  Any person watering newly installed landscaping must register with the Outdoor Water Use Registration Program at http://www.urbanagcouncil.com beginning March 15, 2008.”

WHAT THIS MEANS:  Effective April 1, 2008, newly installed landscaping, which includes grass, shrubs, trees, plants, aeration and over-seeding, (installed by any property owner or by a licensed landscaper) may be watered for 10 consecutive weeks from the date of planting, and only on the odd-even days and times listed above.  Any person, whether a licensed professional or not, watering newly installed landscaping must first register with the Outdoor Water Use Registration Program and pass a short quiz.  The registration certificate given upon completion of the Program must be posted in a conspicuous location before watering may begin, and it must be posted whenever watering occurs.  Registration may be accomplished by either of the following methods:

·        on line at http://www.urbanagcouncil.com (right click on this link and then click "open in new window" on the pop up) --  The on-line registration requires a credit card payment of $4.95 which goes to the Georgia Urban Agriculture Council.    

·         in person at the UGA Douglas County Extension Office  --  The contact information at the extension office is as follows: Phone 770-920-7224, E-Mail uge2097@uga.edu.  There is no charge for certification at the extension office.  The extension office will offer the program each Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and each Thursday from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., by appoint only.   

To view the original EPD exemptions, please click on "WATER", then click on "Water Restrictions".

 FOR EXCELLENT WATER CONSERVATION TIPS, GO TO: conservewatergeorgia.net

ABOUT WSA:

When you turn on your faucet to get a glass of cool, clean, refreshing water, do you ever think about where that water comes from? Most people don’t, and in our community you don’t have to! The Douglasville-Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority has been delivering quality water and wastewater service to Douglas County residents for 17 years. Our motto is “Award-Winning Service For Our Local Community,” and we operate with that mission - and you - in mind, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

With $165 million in assets and the ability to treat 16 million gallons of drinking water and 7.5 million gallons of wastewater each day, we’re keeping pace with our booming community. Our web site will keep you posted on the latest Authority developments. Most anything you could want to know about us is here, from the quality of the water you drink to an application for service. Please drop in and enjoy!