May 23, 2017 – Through a phone conference call today, officials at the Georgia Environmental Protection Division confirmed that Butts County will remain in a Level 1 Drought Declaration status for the next quarter. This schedule allows for outdoor water use between 4 p.m. and 10 a.m. only. This is the same schedule that is allowed when there is NO drought declared.
We would like to remind our customers that we have plenty of water supply here locally, but also encourage everyone to be good stewards of the abundant water we have.
Also, note that the following uses are allowed by anyone at any time of day:
•Commercial agricultural operations as defined in Code Section 1-3-3;
•Capture and reuse of cooling system condensate or storm water in compliance with applicable local ordinances and state guidelines;
•Reuse of gray water in compliance with Code Section 31-3-5.2 and applicable local board of health regulations adopted pursuant thereto;
•Use of reclaimed waste water by a designated user from a system permitted by the Environmental Protection Division of the department to provide reclaimed waste water;
•Irrigation of personal food gardens;
•Irrigation of new and replanted plant, seed, or turf in landscapes, golf courses, or sports turf fields during installation and for a period of 30 days immediately following the date of installation;
•Drip irrigation or irrigation using soaker hoses;
•Handwatering with a hose with automatic cutoff or handheld container;
•Use of water withdrawn from private water wells or surface water by an owner or operator of property if such well or surface water is on said property;
•Irrigation of horticultural crops held for sale, resale, or installation;
•Irrigation of athletic fields, golf courses, or public turf grass recreational areas;
•Installation, maintenance, or calibration of irrigation systems; or
•Hydroseeding.