Fulton County residents will see stricter watering regulations than Forsyth County residents. Department of Public Works Director Angela Parker has unveiled a Fulton County water use plan with tougher water use restrictions than those allowed under the Georgia Environmental Protection Division’s (EPD) February 11, 2008, outdoor water use resolution.
Under the EPD mandate, beginning April 1, 2008, Fulton will be required to reduce water use by 10 percent based on a water production baseline established during the months between April and September 2007, Parker told the Board fo Commissioners in a meeting.
The EPD resolution also includes exemptions from the Drought Level Four restrictions; however, in order for Fulton County to meet the mandated production limits established by EPD, tighter outdoor water use restrictions are required.
Fulton’s water use restrictions are as follows:
-- Residents can hand-water outdoors for 25 minutes per day, one day per week, on an odd-even schedule, while EPD will allow three-day-a-week hand-watering. Even- numbered addresses may water on Saturday between midnight and 10 a.m., and odd-numbered addresses may water on Sunday between midnight and 10 a.m. Hand-watering is defined as one person with one garden hose with a spray nozzle that shuts off when released.
-- Citizens can take advantage of a one-time, 30-day exemption for watering newly installed landscaping. The exemption requires customers to register online through the EPD Outdoor Water Use Registration Program hosted by the Urban Agricultural Council. The Fulton County plan contrasts with the EPD resolution, which allows residents to water newly installed landscape three days a week from midnight to 10 a.m. for 10 weeks, based on the odd/even schedule and registration with the Agricultural Council.
-- Residents can fill outdoor swimming pools as the state exemption allows.
Parker also told Commissioners that the County will continue to monitor water use and additional restrictions may be required as the summer proceeds.
Fulton County's Water Utility includes approximately 70,000 customers north of the city of Sandy Springs.
For more information on Fulton County's Water restrictions call 404-612-8097 or visit
www.fultoncountyga.gov.
If you are a Forsyth County resident, please visit
www.forsythco.com for the updated water restrictions that will be effective April 1, 2008.
