An emergency outdoor water ban is now in effect throughout all of northern Georgia, following more than a year of below average rainfall. The level 4 ban comes as officials predict an even dryer and warmer winter.
Level 4 means absolutely no residential outdoor watering.
Carol Couch heads the state's Environmental Protection Division. "The declaration of level should be considered immediate. In addition to that, we'll continue to monitor the situation to assure that our highest priority responsibility is protecting drinking water and Georgia's public health."
Couch signaled that today's measures may not go far enough. She says some businesses, like car washes, currently exempt from water restrictions, may also face emergency rules.
Lakes Lanier and Allatoona, which provide water for northern Georgia, are at record low levels. The US Army Corps of Engineers has announced that in early October, it will cut the flow out of Allatoona by one third.
State Climatologist David Stooksbury says he can offer little hope for the new year.
Level 4 means absolutely no residential outdoor watering.
Carol Couch heads the state's Environmental Protection Division. "The declaration of level should be considered immediate. In addition to that, we'll continue to monitor the situation to assure that our highest priority responsibility is protecting drinking water and Georgia's public health."
Couch signaled that today's measures may not go far enough. She says some businesses, like car washes, currently exempt from water restrictions, may also face emergency rules.
Lakes Lanier and Allatoona, which provide water for northern Georgia, are at record low levels. The US Army Corps of Engineers has announced that in early October, it will cut the flow out of Allatoona by one third.
State Climatologist David Stooksbury says he can offer little hope for the new year.
The ban applies to the following counties:
Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clarke, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Dade, Dawson, DeKalb, Douglas, Elbert, Fannin, Fayette, Floyd, Forsyth, Franklin, Fulton, Gilmer, Gordon, Greene, Gwinnett, Habersham, Hall, Haralson, Harris, Hart, Heard, Henry, Jackson, Jasper, Lincoln, Lumpkin, Madison, Meriwether, Morgan, Murray, Muscogee, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Polk, Paulding, Pickens, Rabun, Rockdale, Stephens, Spalding, Towns, Troup, Union, Walker, Walton, White, Whitfield and Wilkes.
