Modified Outdoor Water Use Restrictions are effective June 30, 2008

• Section I: Allowed Outdoor Water Use - No Permit Required
• Section II: Allowed Outdoor Water Use - Special Permit Required
• Prohibited Outdoor Water Use
• Effective & Efficient Outdoor Watering
• General Information
• Enforcement
• Background

Section I. Allowed Outdoor Water Use – No permit required

Effective June 30, 2008

Athens-Clarke County Mayor Heidi Davison has signed an order modifying local outdoor water use restrictions to allow one day a week outdoor watering in addition to the existing restrictions that have been in effect since April 2, 2008. 

On May 6, 2008, the Director of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) announced that permitted water users may petition EPD to modify the existing water restrictions, established by the State. On June 24, 2008, ACC received a letter from EPD, approving ACC’s petition to move from Drought Response Modification IV to Drought Response Modification IVa.

This modification means that effective June 30, 2008, outdoor watering of plants or lawns by any method, including spray irrigation, will be allowed on weekdays from 12:00 midnight until 10:00 a.m. based on the last digit of a customer’s address. There is no outdoor watering on Saturday or Sundays, except for hand watering of existing landscapes and special permit watering of newly installed landscaping.

Swimming Pools:

• Swimming pools may be topped off and maintained as necessary. Filling and/or
  refilling of swimming pools will require a Special Use Permit - please see Section II below.

Existing Landscapes:

• Hand-watering of existing landscapes, defined as one person with one garden hose with a spray nozzle attached, will be allowed 25 minutes per day, during designated hours on an odd/even watering schedule.
• The hose must be hand-held during watering and equipped with a standard spray nozzle that automatically turns off when released.
• Watering is allowed only between 12:00 midnight and 10:00 a.m.
• Odd-numbered addresses may water on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.
• Even-numbered addresses may water on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.
• No outdoor watering is allowed on Fridays

Food Gardens:

• Watering of personal food gardens is allowed only within the restrictions set forth        above.

Pressure Washing

• Pressure washing will be allowed for health and/or safety reasons.
• Pressure washing for other purposes will require a Special Use Permit - please see Section II below.
• Pressure washing for aesthetic or beautification purposes is prohibited.
  

Section II. Allowed Outdoor Water Use – Special Use Permit required

The uses below will be allowed under the outdoor water use modifications with permits required. Permits for these uses will be issued until a water demand threshold of 100,000 gallons per day is met; once permits totaling 100,000 gallons per day have been issued, no more permits will be allowed for that specific day.

The uses listed below will require a Special Use Permit from the Athens-Clarke County Public Utilities Department. The permit application will require a description of the gallons-per-day demand necessary before the permit will be issued.

Special Use Permits are available from the Athens-Clarke County Public Utilities Department located at 1865 W. Broad Street, Suite C (706-613-3470) or available for download online.

Swimming Pools:

• The filling or refilling of swimming pools will only be allowed after obtaining a Special Use Permit. The number of gallons necessary for filling/refilling of the pool will be required before a permit is issued.

Newly installed landscaping:

• New landscaping may be installed by anyone (professional or homeowner/property owner). Anyone installing new landscaping must register with the Outdoor Water Use Registration Program at www.urbanagcouncil.com. A copy of the completed certificate must be presented to obtain a Special Use Permit.
• Watering will be allowed by any method following installation with a Special Use permit only between 12:00 midnight and 10:00 a.m. based on the odd/even watering schedule below:

1. Odd-numbered addresses may water on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.
2. Even-numbered addresses may water on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.
3. No outdoor watering is allowed on Fridays

New landscaping may be watered-in as it is being installed, but it is best to plant early or later in the day when temperatures are coolest.

Pressure Washing:

• Pressure washing by anyone (professional or homeowner/property owner) prior to a procedure such as painting is allowed with a Special Permit.
• Pressure washing for aesthetic or beautification purposes is prohibited.

Other Allowed Outdoor Water Uses Requiring Special Use Permits:

• Watering in of pesticides/herbicides/fertilizers by a licensed professional only is allowed with a Special Use Permit.
• Flushing of water lines for new developments is allowed with a Special Use Permit.
• Water uses related to roadway construction are allowed with a Special Use Permit.
  

prohibited Outdoor WATER USEs

All other outdoor water uses remain prohibited, including washing vehicles, except in a commercial car wash that has obtained a Special Use Permit.

EFFECTIVE & EFFICIENT Outdoor Watering

The Athens-Clarke County Cooperative Extension Office has a series of tips and guides for making sure that your outdoor water use is effective and efficient.

general information

The modifications to outdoor water use are subject to change based on available water supply and reduction mandates in monthly usage set forth by the Governor and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division. 

These modifications apply to all residential, commercial, governmental, and institutional customers of the Athens-Clarke County public water supply system.  Private water supplies such as wells are currently exempt from the outdoor water use restrictions, but conservation is encouraged. Groundwater supplies have also been impacted by the drought.

The Athens-Clarke County Public Utilities Department urges citizens to follow all outdoor water use restrictions and conserve water indoors whenever possible. Authorized Athens-Clarke County personnel will be enforcing the restrictions, with surcharges of $1000.00 and/or termination of water service for violating the outdoor water use restrictions. See below for enforcement procedures. 

Please call 706-613-3470, visit the Athens-Clarke County Public Utilities Department located at 1865 W. Broad Street, Suite C., or visit www.accpublicutilities.com for additional information.

ENFORCEMENT [updated 9/14/07]

Violations to this response are being enforced by the Public Utilities Department, Community Protection Division, and/or the Police Department. The various violations are as follows:

1st Violation
If authorized staff from the Public Utilities Department, Community Protection Division and/or Police Department sworn personnel directly observe a water use violation for the first time, they issue a written notice to the individual having the water account for that address.

2nd Violation
If any of the authorized staff (noted above) directly observes a second water use violation at an address within the last 12 months, the individual having the water account for that address is served with a notice of second violation and receives a fine on his/her water bill. Additional violations will lead to further fines and/or termination of water service.

Second Hand Evidence
If any of the authorized Unified Government staff sees evidence of apparent violations, but does not directly witness it, the individual having the water account for that address is issued a courtesy notice informing them of the current outdoor water use restrictions and that their address has been placed on a “watch” list.

Citizens can also help to enforce this water conservation movement by either of two methods:

Formal Complaint
If you see a violation of the outdoor water use restrictions and wish to file a formal complaint, please follow these steps:

1. Complete and sign a Sworn Witness Statement* in the presence of a Notary Public, testifying that you witnessed first-hand a violation. The Notary Public must affix his or her seal and indicate in writing the state and county of appointment.

2. Mail or deliver the original Sworn Witness Statement to the Director of Public Utilities at 1865 Broad Street, Suite C, Athens, GA 30606.

*The Sworn Witness Statement form can be downloaded from www.athensclarkecounty.com or picked up at the Public Utilities Department, 1865 Broad Street, Suite C, Athens, GA 30606

A notice of violation will be issued upon receipt of a minimum of two Sworn Witness Statements from two different people regarding the same address. If the Public Utilities Department receives only one Sworn Witness Statement for an occurrence, a courtesy notice is issued informing the violator of the current outdoor water use restrictions and that their address has been placed on a “watch” list.

Non-formal Complaint
If you see a violation or evidence of a violation and do not wish to sign a Sworn Witness Statement, you may report it to the Public Utilities Department. Such information may be used to issue a courtesy notice informing the violator of the current outdoor water use restrictions and that their address has been placed on a “watch” list.

These enforcements are crucial in order to protect our water resources and any questions regarding prohibited uses should be directed to the Public Utilities Department at 706-613-3470.

Background

The Hydro-Illogical cycle is a series of stages that demonstrates people’s typical response to cycles of wet and dry weather. There are six stages to The Hydro-Illogical cycle: Rain, Apathy, Drought, Awareness, Concern, and Panic.

However, unlike other natural disasters, drought does not have a clearly defined beginning and end. By addressing water conservation as a continual effort before the next shortage, the Water Conservation Committee hopes that all citizens will realize the importance of conserving water.

The Water Conservation Committee - made up of ACC staff, citizens, and area professionals - was charged with conducting a comprehensive study, in conjunction with EPD's current guidelines, of appropriate water conservation and drought contingency measures for ACC and making timely recommendations to the Mayor and Commission for their consideration.

To receive information regarding water conservation, contact the Public Utilities Department's Water Conservation Coordinator at 706-613-3729.

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