Latest water ban is less restrictive

By KATHY WAGSTAFF
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/16/04


Cherokee County homeowners and businesses will have to watch their spigots under new state mandatory water restrictions that limit outdoor watering to three days a week.

The state restrictions go into effect Aug. 1, but the Cherokee County Water and Sewerage Authority water restriction actually began May 26.

Few homeowners seem to care how much water a plant needs when selecting landscaping materials, says Tommy Nobis III of Buck Jones and Associates Nursery.

The authority's mandate affects unincorporated Cherokee County and the cities of Ball Ground, Waleska, Canton and Holly Springs. Woodstock residents get a reprieve until Aug. 1.

The restrictions are part of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources drought management plan for the state.

The new watering schedule will be more forgiving to plants than the strict watering schedules enacted during Georgia's drought from 1997 through 2002.

Odd-numbered addresses are allowed to water outdoors on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Even-numbered and unnumbered addresses are allowed to water Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. And for the first time, vegetable gardens are exempt from the ban.

That pleases Acworth resident Glenn McCurley. Each summer, he plants more than 100 tomato plants for his own consumption and to give away to neighbors.

"I don't do much watering," said McCurley. "But I have to keep them alive. This is good."

Businesses that need water to operate are exempt, including farms, carwashes, professional landscapers and garden centers.

Golf courses use treated wastewater for watering and also are exempt.

The Palmer Drought Severity Index shows a 5.12-inch rain deficit or a moderate drought in Cherokee County.

Although the county is not in a critically drought-stricken area, it still has a potential for problems, said Dwight Turner, public information officer for the Cherokee County Water and Sewerage Authority.

"We needed to do it," said Turner. "The river [Etowah] level is low. This county's blessed to have the Etowah River. It's not that there is a shortage of water right now. It's more of a distribution problem. Everyone just can't turn on the water at the same time. If people can just follow that one thing, it will really help."

When there were no limits on outdoor watering in the county, customers complained of low or no water pressure. Restrictions are more preemptive strikes at potential problems but will still result in fines if not followed, said Turner.

Fines range from $50 to $250 to a turn off of service. Law enforcement and water department personnel will help enforce the restrictions.

Marcia Winchester, a master gardener in the county, said she's glad to see the restrictions in place because they'll be easy to follow and may prevent a harsher ban in the future.

"As a gardener, it certainly makes it easier," Winchester said. "We always need to watch how we use water. We only have the water on this earth.

"You're allowed to water three days a week. That doesn't mean your plants need to be watered three days a week. You'll drown them."

• For more information go to www.georgiadrought.org or call 770-479-1813.

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