Georgia Considers Statewide Water Restrictions

The Irrigation Association (IA) reports that while there isn’t a major drought in Georgia, the Georgia Board of Natural Resources wants to enact statewide rules to regulate non-commercial outdoor water use.

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division requested comments on the proposed rules and scheduled a public hearing in Atlanta. Two summers ago, the drought was so bad throughout Georgia that the state developed a comprehensive drought management plan, prompting a look at permanent watering restrictions. These restrictions will likely include fines for irrigation systems with excessive runoff and for residents who fail to repair broken sprinkler heads or pipes, according to the IA's May 2004 E-Times.

The author is managing editor of Lawn & Landscape magazine and can be reached at nwisniewski@gie.net.