Outdoor Water-Use Restrictions Modified

 

Effective April 1, 2009, customers of the Douglasville-Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority (WSA) will now be able to enjoy more-relaxed outdoor water-use restrictions than with the total outdoor watering ban which has been in effect since July 1, 2007.  

 

When the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) criteria for filing a Petition for Drought Response Modification recently changed, WSA immediately filed a Petition, requesting authorization to relax watering restrictions for WSA’s customers.  EPD granted permission on March 29th to relax the restrictions from EPD’s Level IV to Level IVc Drought Response Modification.  Although WSA remains within EPD’s Drought Response Level IV area, the new Level IVc modifications are more generous.

 

Allowed outdoor water use includes:  activities such as irrigating existing and new landscapes (including the use of in-ground sprinkler systems), filling and maintaining swimming pools, washing vehicles, power washing homes, etc.  The new outdoor water-use restrictions for WSA customers are as follows:

 

S          Customers may use water outdoors between 12:00 midnight and 10:00 a.m. on designated days based on an odd or even address system. 

 

S          Odd addresses may use outdoor water on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.

 

S          Even and unnumbered addresses may use outdoor water on Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays. 

 

S          Newly installed landscaping follows the odd/even schedule referenced above.  EPD still requires 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 – 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 appointment only.

 

Allowed without restrictions on the day or time:

 

S          filling of swimming pools

 

S          watering of food gardens

 

S          commercial water use by car washes, retail garden centers, or commercial power washers

 

S          watering in of herbicides applied by a certified or licensed landscaper on the day of application only, with no hour restrictions

 

Not allowed outdoor water use includes:                                    

 

S          Using hydrants for any purpose other than firefighting, public health, safety or flushing;

 

S          Washing hard surfaces, such as streets, gutters, sidewalks and driveways except when necessary for public health and safety.

 

The Authority is currently recognizing the limited exemptions established by the Georgia EPD Rules for Outdoor Water Use, which means that the following uses are not affected by the Level IVc Drought Response Modification being implemented by the Authority at this time:

 

(1)              Capture and re-use of cooling system condensate or stormwater in compliance with applicable local ordinances.

(2)              Re-use of gray water in compliance with applicable local ordinances.

(3)              Use of reclaimed wastewater by a designated user from a system permitted by EPD to provide reclaimed wastewater.

(4)              Irrigation of personal food gardens.

(5)              The following golf course uses are exempt:

a.      Use of reclaimed wastewater by a designated user from a system permitted by EPD to provide reclaimed wastewater.

b.     Irrigation of greens.

(6)              The following commercial outdoor water uses are exempt:

a.      Professional certified or licensed landscapers, golf course contractors, and sports turf landscapers: during installation and 30 days following installation only.  Professional landscapers must be certified or licensed for commercial exemptions to apply.

b.     Irrigation contractors: during installation and as needed for proper maintenance and adjustments only.

c.      Sod producers.

d.      Ornamental growers

e.      Fruit and vegetable growers.

f.       Retail garden centers.

g.      Hydro-seeding.

h.      Power-washing.

i.        Construction sites.

j.        Producers of food and fiber.

k.      Car washes.

l.        Other activities essential to daily business.

m.   Watering-in of pesticides and herbicides on turf.

 

 

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