The Governor signed a new state law allowing the citizens of Georgia to water any day of the week regardless of your address between the hours of 4 PM and 10 AM. For more information on this new law, go to Frequently Asked Questions About Outdoor Water Use
To view the complete Water Stewardship Act that the Governer signed click here
RULES OF
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DIVISION
CHAPTER 391-3-30
OUTDOOR WATER USE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
391-3-30-.01 Definitions
391-3-30-.02 Applicability of Rule
391-3-30-.03 Outdoor Water Use Schedule During Non-Drought Periods
391-3-30-.04 Outdoor Water Use Schedule During Declared Drought Response Levels
391-3-30-.05 Exemptions
391-3-30-.06 Local and Regional Options
391-3-30-.01 Definitions
When used in this Chapter:
(1) "Address" means the "house number" (a numeric or alphanumeric designation) that,
together with the street name, describes a physical location of a specific property. "Even
numbered address" means a house number ending with the number 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, or no
house number. "Odd numbered address" means a house number ending with the number
1, 3, 5, 7, or 9.
(2) "Declared Drought Response Level" means one of four levels of drought that can be
declared based on the severity of drought conditions, with one being the least severe and
four being the most severe.
391-3-30-.02 Applicability of Rule
These rules apply to any entity, and its customers, permitted by the Georgia Environmental
Protection Division (EPD) for water withdrawal or for operation of a drinking water system.
391-3-30-.03 Outdoor Water Use Schedule During Non-Drought Periods
(1) Outdoor water use other than exempted activities shall occur only as follows:
(a) Odd-numbered addresses: outdoor water use is allowed on Tuesdays,
Thursdays and Sundays.
(b) Even-numbered addresses: outdoor water use is allowed on Mondays,
Wednesdays and Saturdays.
391-3-30-.04 Outdoor Water Use Schedule During Declared Drought Response Levels
(1) The Director of the Environmental Protection Division is authorized to make
drought declarations.
(2) During declared drought conditions, outdoor water use other than activities
exempted in 391-3-30-.05, shall occur only during scheduled hours on the scheduled
days.
(3) Declared Drought Response Level One - Outdoor water use may occur on
scheduled days within the hours of 12:00 midnight to 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to
12:00 midnight.
(a) Scheduled days for odd-numbered addresses are Tuesdays, Thursdays and
Sundays.
(b) Scheduled days for even-numbered addresses are Mondays, Wednesdays
and Saturdays.
(c) Use of hydrants for any purpose other than firefighting, public health, safety
or flushing is prohibited.
(4) Declared Drought Response Level Two - Outdoor water use may occur on scheduled
days within the hours of 12:00 midnight to 10:00 a.m.
(a) Scheduled days for odd-numbered addresses are Tuesdays, Thursdays and
Sundays.
(b) Scheduled days for even-numbered addresses and golf course fairways are
Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
(c) The following uses are prohibited:
1) Using hydrants for any purpose other than firefighting, public health,
safety or flushing.
2) Washing hard surfaces, such as streets, gutters, sidewalks and
driveways except when necessary for public health and safety.
(5) Declared Drought Response Level Three - Outdoor water use may occur on the
scheduled day within the hours of 12:00 midnight to 10:00 a.m.
(a) The scheduled day for odd-numbered addresses is Sunday.
(b) The scheduled day for even-numbered addresses and golf course fairways is
Saturday.
(c) The following uses are prohibited:
1) Using hydrants for any purpose other than firefighting, public health,
safety or flushing.
2) Washing hard surfaces, such as streets, gutters, sidewalks,
driveways, except when necessary for public health and safety
3) Filling installed swimming pools except when necessary for health
care or structural integrity.
4) Washing vehicles, such as cars, boats, trailers, motorbikes, airplanes,
golf carts.
5) Washing buildings or structures except for immediate fire
protection.
6) Non-commercial fund-raisers, such as car washes.
7) Using water for ornamental purposes, such as fountains, reflecting
pools, and waterfalls except when necessary to support aquatic life.
(6) Declared Drought Response Level Four - No outdoor water use is allowed, other than
for activities exempted in 391-3-30-.05, or as the EPD Director may order.
391-3-30-.05 Exemptions
(1) This rule shall not apply to the following outdoor water uses:
(a) Capture and re-use of cooling system condensate or storm water in
compliance with applicable local ordinances
(b) Re-use of gray water in compliance with applicable local ordinances
(2) The following established landscape water uses are exempt from the outdoor water
use schedules of this rule.
(a) Use of reclaimed wastewater by a designated user from a system permitted
by EPD to provide reclaimed wastewater.
(b) Irrigation of personal food gardens.
(3) Newly (in place less than thirty days) installed landscapes are subject to the following:
(b) For new landscapes installed by certified or licensed professionals,
commercial exemptions apply.
(4) The following golf course outdoor water uses are exempt from the outdoor water use
schedules of this rule.
(a) Use of reclaimed wastewater by a designated user from a system permitted
by EPD to provide reclaimed wastewater.
(b) Irrigation of fairways during times of non-drought and Declared Drought
Response Level One.
(c) Irrigation of tees during times of non-drought and Declared Drought
Response Levels One, Two and Three.
(d) Irrigation of greens.
(5) The following commercial outdoor water uses are exempt from the outdoor water use
schedules of this rule.
(a) Professionally 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.
391-3-30-.06 Local and Regional Options
(1) Local and regional water providers are authorized to implement additional outdoor
water use restrictions within their jurisdictions. Action items to consider at the
local/regional level include, but are not limited to, the following: developing system
integration and interconnection to reduce drought vulnerability, placing additional water
use restrictions on specific commercial uses, putting water conservation based rates in
place (increasing block/summer surcharge) and placing additional restrictions on outdoor
water use.
(2) Local and regional water providers may request approval of alternative days for
outdoor water use for purposes of enforcement, peak water usage, timing of recovery
days, and other valid reasons. Approval shall be contingent upon:
(a) Written notification to, and approval by, EPD of the alternate watering
schedule; and
(b) Enactment of a local ordinance allowing no more than 3 days a week outdoor
watering during time(s) of day consistent with the level of drought as set forth in
sections 391-3-30-.03 and -.04 of this rule.
(c) Regional consistency.