Outdoor Watering
Restriction
 The Georgia Department of
Natural Resources (D.N.R.) State
Drought Response Committee implemented a mandatory
Drought
Response Level 4 Outdoor Watering Restriction Schedule
effective September 29, 2007 resulting
from regulations and guidelines
established within the Board of Natural Resources Statewide Drought
Management Plan adopted on March 26, 2003 which prohibits all outdoor
watering activities. This mandatory Outdoor
Watering Restriction was issued in response to historic and, in some
areas, unprecedented drought conditions across the State of Georgia as
an essential measure to preserve our most precious natural resource;
replenish water levels within local streams, rivers and lakes; decrease
peak water service demands; minimize water pressure reductions; reduce
water processing and production costs; and maintain abundant potable
(drinkable) water resources for future generations. On February 6,
2008, Governor Sonny Perdue announced that certain outdoor watering
restrictions within the current Drought Response Level 4 would be
lessened to incorporate a balance between water conservation efforts
and commercial requirements effective April 1, 2008. The Bartow County
Water Department also successfully
petitioned the Department of Natural
Resources to have our Drought
Response Level modified from Level 4
to Level 4a that allows the
following outdoor watering
activities effective July 21, 2008:
- The hand watering of previously installed
landscapes (installed over 30 days) is permitted for a total of 25
minutes per day from 12:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. based upon the following
Odd/Even Address Outdoor Watering Schedule: Even-Numbered Addresses are permitted
to water on Mondays and Wednesdays. Odd-Numbered Addresses may
water on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
In addition, Even-Numbered
Addresses are also permitted to
perform hand watering of previously
installed landscapes from 12:00 a.m.
to 10:00 a.m. on Saturdays while
Odd-Numbered Addresses are also
permitted to perform hand watering
of previously installed landscapes
from 12:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on
Sundays without any time
restrictions. Hand
watering must be performed by one
handheld garden hose equipped with a
standard spray nozzle that
automatically turns off upon
releasing!
- Watering of newly installed landscapes is
permitted any time during the initial installation date and then for a total of 30 days during a period of 10 consecutive
weeks following initial installation from 12:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
once all required permits indicated
below have been obtained based upon
the following Odd/Even Address Outdoor Watering Schedule:
Even-Numbered Addresses may water on Mondays
and Wednesdays.
Odd-Numbered Addresses may water on
Tuesdays and Sundays.
In addition, Even-Numbered
Addresses are also permitted to
water newly installed landscapes
from 12:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on
Saturdays while Odd-Numbered
Addresses are also permitted to
water newly installed landscapes
from 12:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on
Sundays without any time
restrictions.
Customers desiring to water new
professionally installed landscapes
following the initial installation
date must register with and obtain
an Online Certificate from
the Outdoor Water Use Registration
Program at http://www.urbanagcouncil.com or contact the Bartow County Extension
Agency @ (770) 387-5142. A Newly Installed Landscapes 10-Week
Outdoor Watering Exemption Permit must also be obtained from our
department prior to watering activities. (Note: Customers must
present to our department a receipt from the purchase of new landscape
material to obtain this permit. Customers that will be utilizing
automated/in-ground sprinkler systems must also submit documentation
that a testable backflow prevention (BFP) device is installed and has
been successfully tested within the last 365 days. The Environmental
Protection Division (EPD) requires
that all testable backflow
prevention (BFP) devices are tested
annually and our department is
responsible for mailing customers
BFP Testing Notifications.) After the
10-week exemption period has expired, the Outdoor Watering Restriction
Schedule must be followed! .
- Swimming pools may be filled based upon the
Odd/Even Address Outdoor Watering Schedule without any time restrictions during
the permitted days. However,
the definition of a "swimming pool" does not include
“slip-n-slides” or any other water toys which requires a continuous
stream of water for their operation.
-
Personal food gardens; however watering of
food gardens is encouraged to be performed from 12:00 a.m. to 10:00
a.m.
-
Personal vehicles
may be washed on the following
schedule: Even-Numbered
Addresses from 12:00 a.m. to
10:00 a.m. on Saturdays;
Odd-Numbered Addresses from
12:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on
Sundays.
-
Businesses dependent upon daily outdoor
watering activities such as car washes; sod producers; ornamental
growers; fruit/vegetable producers; retail garden centers;
hydro-seeding; power-washing (if performed by a professionally
certified/licensed power-washer or for public health/safety reasons);
construction sites; watering-in of chemical applications (pesticides,
herbicides, fertilizers, etc.) on turf (12:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. based
upon the Odd/Even Address Outdoor Watering Schedule); and recapture and
re-use of cooling system condensate or storm water and re-use of gray
water in compliance with applicable local ordinances.
-
Irrigations performed from the utilization of
reclaimed wastewater from a system permitted by the Environmental
Protection Division (E.P.D.) and/or private wells not requiring E.P.D.
water withdrawal permits. Water withdrawals in excess of 100,000
Gallons-per Day (GPD) require the
acquisition of a Water Withdrawal
Permit from the Environmental
Protection Division (EPD).
- Golf course greens.
Irrigation of tees and fairways are prohibited if their water source is
a utility water service provider!
Bartow County Water Outdoor Watering Violation Fines
The Bartow County Water Department has
implemented the following Outdoor Watering Violation Fines:
1st Offense - $250.00 Outdoor Watering Violation Fine.
2nd Offense - $500.00 Outdoor Watering Violation Fine.
3rd Offense - $1,000.00 Outdoor Watering Violation Fine.
4th Offense - $1,000.00 Outdoor Watering Violation Fine.
Water service shall be disconnected until the Outdoor Watering
Restriction Drought Response Level has been reduced. Service
reconnection will require complete payment of the fine and approval of
the Bartow County Water Department Superintendent.
Customers that do not adhere to the Outdoor
Watering Restriction shall be given a Outdoor Watering Restriction
Violation Notice door hanger indicating the date and time of said
violation and will be mailed a letter from our department indicating
that the corresponding fine has been added to their water service
utility bill and that said fine must be paid within ten (10) calendar
days. Failure to pay said fine within this period will result in water
service disconnection and additional penalties.
Water Conservation
 The responsible
acquisition, management, distribution and conservation of potable
(drinkable) water resources are the most fundamental and essential
operational procedures that municipal water providers must consider
when successfully planning for increased demands resulting from
continued population growth and commercial development. Everyone needs
to become thoroughly informed and actively participate in various water
conservation efforts while following mandated outdoor watering
restriction schedules  to protect our most
precious natural resource for future generations. Local water
conservation policies and guidelines are explicitly documented and
detailed within the Bartow County Water Conservation & Drought
Contingency Plan © December 2001 and Bartow County Water Service &
Conservation Ordinance adopted December 17, 2003 and subsequently
amended on December 15, 2004. These publications are
available upon request from the Bartow County Water Department @ 50
Nelson Street and Frank Moore Judicial & Administrative Building @
135 West Cherokee Avenue in Cartersville, Georgia.
Water Conservation Tips
- Water
Saver Kits are now available to Bartow County Water System customers
whose residences were constructed prior to 1993.
- Capture
rainfall in rain barrels, buckets, etc.
- Collect
condensation emitted from air conditioning units. (Some units produce
up to 20 Gallons of water per day.)
- Capture
water discharged from showers and faucets as you allow the water to
warm.
- Turn off
water faucets while brushing teeth.
- Restrict
water usage to rinsing prior to and following lathering when showering.
- Reducing
power consumption also reduce the amount of water processed by local
power companies.
For additional
information or further questions regarding the current mandatory
outdoor watering restriction, Board of Natural Resources Statewide
Drought Management Plan, Bartow County Water Conservation & Drought
Contingency Plan, Bartow County Water Service & Conservation
Ordinance and/or water conservation efforts, please either contact the
Bartow County Water Department @ (770) 387-5170, Georgia Department of
Natural Resources @ (912) 353-3225 or visit the following website
addresses (listed alphabetically under category): |
