The state Environmental Protection Division has eased water restrictions to allow drip irrigation and soaker hoses.
The change, which took effect last week, affects residents in Forsyth and some 50 other north Georgia counties.
EPD Director Carol A. Couch said in a statement that “drip irrigation and soaker hoses are high-efficiency outdoor watering devices” that have proven effective during drought.
“We want to offer Georgians more watering choices, but also want to make it clear these exemptions will be withdrawn should water use rise significantly, or if the drought worsens,” Couch said.
Forsyth County and much of the region remains under a Level 4 drought.
A drip irrigation system slowly waters the soil around the base of plants through small, flexible pipes and emitters. This minimizes evaporation, pooling and runoff.
Soaker hoses are a less expensive alternative to drip irrigation that are also much more efficient than traditional spray-head or sprinkler irrigation systems.
They are connected to a typical outdoor faucet and also deliver water slowly to the soil around the base of plants.
The department shows water use in the Level 4 areas have dropped every month since November 2007, compared to water use for the same month one year earlier.
Citing the low lake levels, the department first issued the drought response in September 2007.
The use of drip irrigation and soaker hoses is allowed only on existing landscape plants, and does not include lawn grass or turf.
Odd-numbered addresses may water on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays and even-numbered addresses may water on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
All watering must take place between midnight and 10 a.m. No watering is permitted on Fridays.
Watering is limited to the use of one garden hose for 25 minutes a day. The hose must be held during watering and equipped with a standard spray nozzle that turns off automatically.
More watering information can be found online at www.forsythco.com.
The change, which took effect last week, affects residents in Forsyth and some 50 other north Georgia counties.
EPD Director Carol A. Couch said in a statement that “drip irrigation and soaker hoses are high-efficiency outdoor watering devices” that have proven effective during drought.
“We want to offer Georgians more watering choices, but also want to make it clear these exemptions will be withdrawn should water use rise significantly, or if the drought worsens,” Couch said.
Forsyth County and much of the region remains under a Level 4 drought.
A drip irrigation system slowly waters the soil around the base of plants through small, flexible pipes and emitters. This minimizes evaporation, pooling and runoff.
Soaker hoses are a less expensive alternative to drip irrigation that are also much more efficient than traditional spray-head or sprinkler irrigation systems.
They are connected to a typical outdoor faucet and also deliver water slowly to the soil around the base of plants.
The department shows water use in the Level 4 areas have dropped every month since November 2007, compared to water use for the same month one year earlier.
Citing the low lake levels, the department first issued the drought response in September 2007.
The use of drip irrigation and soaker hoses is allowed only on existing landscape plants, and does not include lawn grass or turf.
Odd-numbered addresses may water on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays and even-numbered addresses may water on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
All watering must take place between midnight and 10 a.m. No watering is permitted on Fridays.
Watering is limited to the use of one garden hose for 25 minutes a day. The hose must be held during watering and equipped with a standard spray nozzle that turns off automatically.
More watering information can be found online at www.forsythco.com.