The city of LaFayette, Ga. is urging residents to conserve water as a drought continues.
David Hamilton, city manager, issued this statement:
As all our citizens and water consumers are aware, we have had substantially below average rainfall in our region over the last several weeks. Although no emergency water plans are in effect at this point, it is a fact that our local water sources are dependent upon local rainfall and have been affected by the lack of rain. We, along with State Government officials are closely monitoring rainfall and the water supply and as always planning for any potential adverse effects on the water supply. With this in mind, we’re asking our water consumers and citizens to begin conserving water in any way possible. In addition, we want to remind our water consumers that the State of Georgia enacted the Georgia Water Stewardship Act on June 2, 2010 and is currently in force in order to ensure that we conserve our precious water resources, and in order to better plan for any potential emergencies.
The details of the Stewardship Act are as follows: The Georgia Water Stewardship Act went into effect statewide on June 2, 2010. It allows daily outdoor watering for purposes of planting, growing, managing, or maintaining ground cover, trees, shrubs, or other plants only between the hours of 4 p.m. and 10 a.m. by anyone whose water is supplied by a water system permitted by the Environmental Protection Division.
The following outdoor water uses also are allowed daily at any time of the day by anyone:
• 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;
• Hand watering 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• Use of water withdrawn from private water wells or surface water by an owner or operator of property if such well or surface water is on said property;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
• Hydro seeding.