Community Corner

Oconee County Under Level 1 Drought Restrictions

Effective Sept. 19, water customers must adhere to a more stringent outdoor water use schedule because of drought.

(Updated 9 a.m. on Sept. 20) Editor's Note: This article has been updated to clarify local, state, and federal responses to the drought conditions.

Oconee County water customers must adhere to a more stringent outdoor water use schedule for now because of drought.

The new limits were earlier in the month and recently endorsed by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division.

Find out what's happening in Oconeewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

On Monday, County Administrative Officer Alan Theriault emailed Patch a chart of the Level I Drought Restrictions that took effect Sept. 19. 

Level 1 Drought Restrictions for Oconee County

Odd-Even Schedule

Find out what's happening in Oconeewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Even addresses water on Monday, Wednesday, Saturday

Odd addresses water on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday

The following may NOT be done during the hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.:

  • Automated irrigation systems
  • Hand watering
  • Lawn sprinklers
  • Irrigation of public recreational turf areas
  • Irrigation of sports fields

There are no restrictions on the following:

  • Car washing at home
  • Charity car washes
  • Hosing driveways
  • Outdoor cleaning
  • Pressure washing by homeowner
  • Topping off pools

No Restrictions

There are no restrictions at any time for:

  • Commercial pressure washing
  • Drip irrigation or soaker hose
  • Food gardens
  • Hand watering with shut-off nozzle
  • Hydroseeding
  • Instillation/maintenance of irrigation system
  • Irrigation of newly installed plants/turf
  • Irrigation of plants for sale
  • Water from a private well
  • Water from an alternate source, such as grey water, rainwater or condensate.

 

The restrictions are also available on the county's website for download.

In other related news, Oconee is one of 150 Georgia counties that has has received a federal agricultural disaster designation.  The counties are now eligible to apply for emergency loans and other benefits provided by the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 because of impeding , according to a news release from Gov. Nathan Deal's office.


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