Understanding Current Outdoor Water Use Rules
Todd Hurt, UGA Center for Urban Agriculture
Updated June 9, 2008
***Important note HB1281 and EPD made changes to the Outdoor Water Use Rule in May 2008. Please check with your local water provider for their current status.***
On May 28th EPD added three levels of drought modification rules to level four:
Level IVa - Odd/even watering 1 day per week between midnight and
10:00 am: At the discretion of the permittee, odd addresses water on
Sundays or Thursdays, even addresses water on Mondays or Saturdays;
Level IVb - Odd/even watering 2 days per week between midnight and
10:00 am: Odd on Tuesdays and Thursdays, even on Mondays and
Wednesdays. At the discretion of the permittee odd addresses may water
on Thursdays and Sundays, even addresses may water on Wednesdays
and Saturdays;
Level IVc - Odd/even watering 3 days per week between midnight and
10:00 am: Odd on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, even on
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays
(It is my interpretation of Level 4c that the outdoor water use registration program is not needed in Level 4c because of the similar allowed water use schedule and this is under review by EPD).
Has your provider gone to a modified drought level 4?
The Georgia Association of Water Providers is maintaining a list of Approved Drought Response Level changes by Water Provider on their website then select the link under the sprinkler in the upper left.
Does your water provider want to petition EPD for a variance?
6 counties who have been moved from Level 4 to Level 2 (Muscogee, Harris, Spalding, Butts, Jasper and Greene counties). The Outdoor Water Use Registration Program is not required under Drought Level 2. If your county has gone to drought level two you must revert back to the language found in the Outdoor Water Use rule:
Other Basic Guidelines:
- If you are on well water and the well is not permitted by EPD (you would know because you would have to submit use reports) neither local or state outdoor water use rules apply to you.
- Your water provider may impose greater restrictions than the state rule.
- No state registration is required to water 25 minutes a day with a hose and automatic shutoff device. Odd/even building number schedule midnight until 10 am. (Even numbered addresses Mon., Weds., Sat. Odd Addresses T, Th, Sun.)
- Filling of Swimming pools is allowed without hourly/daily restrictions.
- New landscape plantings (individual plants or whole landscapes in the ground less than 30 days {some county restrictions modify this}) may be watered using an irrigation system or otherwise for a 10 week period on the odd/even building number system midnight until 10 am and during installation. This option requires completing the EPD registration/educational module mentioned in item 2 above.
- The public may contact their Extension Office for options on completing the registration module or they may access the program online. Two web links will get them to the same place either http://outdoorwateruse.com or http://urbanagcouncil.com . User support issues for the online program should contact support@urbanagcouncil.com .
- There is a $4.95 convenience fee associated with the online option. The website and promotional materials have development and hosting costs and the state government provided no way to budget for it. The online process should take about 20-25 minutes.
- Landscape companies will need to go through the registration process and keep a copy in each work vehicle to allow them to water the plants in at planting. The property owner will also need to register to be able to continue to water the planting for the next 10 weeks. The property owner should put a copy of the certificate in a "zip lock" bag and post it near the entrance of the property.
- State facilities (all of Georgia) are still under the no new landscaping executive order by the Governor issued last fall (this is the 10% use reduction order that also called for no washing of state vehicles).
- All other commercial exemptions in the state outdoor water use rule still apply.
[Exemptions still standing in outdoor water rule are]
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:
(a) Irrigation of newly installed landscapes is allowed any day of the week, but
only during allowed hours for the drought response level in effect, for a period of
30 days following installation. No watering is allowed during Drought Response
Level Four.
(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 (changes have occurred please check with EPD).
(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.
The following uses are Still PROHIBITED under Drought Level 4:
- Using hydrants for any purpose other than firefighting, public health,
safety or flushing.
- Washing hard surfaces, such as streets, gutters, sidewalks,
driveways, except when necessary for public health and safety
- Washing vehicles, such as cars, boats, trailers, motorbikes, airplanes,
golf carts.
- Washing buildings or structures except for immediate fire
protection.
- Non-commercial fund-raisers, such as car washes.
- Using water for ornamental purposes, such as fountains, reflecting
pools, and waterfalls except when necessary to support aquatic life.
For complete Rules, Regulations and Exemptions please go to the website, click on “Outdoor Water Use Schedule” and then click on “Rules for Outdoor Water Use”.
Water Issue Publications
Graywater Use