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Finally, drought is over
Published June 14, 2009
WALTON COUNTY — It could not have been put any more bluntly.
“The drought is over,” said Carol Couch, director of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, during a press conference last week announcing the state relaxing watering restrictions.
After more than two years under strict watering guidelines, residents will finally be able to break out their sprinklers and wash their cars all across the county — though some restrictions remain in place.
Walton County residents can water any time they would like during their allotted three days during the week. Restrictions do remain in place — those with even-numbered street addresses can water Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays; those with odd-numbered addresses can water Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Before the announcement, most residents could only water for an hour those days (City of Monroe residents had looser restrictions on their watering after petitioning the state last year).
Under the new rules, there are no time limits for when residents can water, though state officials encourage watering before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m.
“We are excited,” said Walton County Board of Commissioners Chairman Kevin Little. “We’ve been ready and able. The state gauges everything off Lake Lanier, but our water supplies have been running almost at full pool recently.”
Water use has dropped 15 percent across the state, exceeding the 10 percent goal set by Gov. Sonny Perdue when drought conditions were at their worst — and restrictions at their toughest. State and local officials credit conservation efforts at reaching the goal.
In the region, according to the National Weather Service, the rainfall this year is only slightly above average — 22.71 inches this year versus an average of 22.45 — but this news is certainly better than the past 30 months, where precipitation has been nowhere near the average and resulted in dire consequences for sources of water.
“The Walton County Water Department is pleased to see a relaxing of water use restrictions by the state,” said interim Director Michael Rachelson. “Normal rain patterns prior to the drought typically show that summer months can be expected to be drier than the weather so far this year.
“Current water supplies can handle the normally lower rainfall over the summer months.”
The move also comes at an opportune time for suppliers. Both county and city governments in Walton County have reported less revenue from their water departments. During the tough economic times nationwide, the effects locally have included a price increase by the county of 20 percent for residential and commercial users and 25 percent for wholesale users like the city of Loganville, which last week raised their water rates as a result.
While a wet spring has afforded the relaxation of water restrictions, there is still an air of caution.
“We are still encouraging residents to keep good conservation practices in mind because the next drought could be just around the corner,” Little said.
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