Lake Allatoona, north of Atlanta: bridge over troubled waters (Dave Bender/file)
Environmental Protection Division chief Carol Couch, said Wednesday the state's deepening drought may force her to tighten a range of water restrictions loosened earlier this year.
Couch says she will evaluate water use in the state next month, and decide whether to impose new restrictions for the dozens of communities in north Georgia where some watering limits have been relaxed.
The announcement came as state climatologist David Stooksbury declared that soaring summer temperatures and light rainfall have plunged more of Georgia into drought conditions.
Couch has faced criticism from some environmentalists who say relaxing water restrictions during the drought could send conflicting messages about the state's water crisis and set the stage for tighter limits in the fall. But Couch is also under pressure from agriculture groups, who fear a new round of conservation measures could cripple their industry.
(The Associated Press)
Click here for more GPB News coverage of the drought, and it's effects on Georgia.
