The director of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division has declared a level two drought response across the state and will require all Georgians to follow a more stringent outdoor water use schedule.
A level two drought declaration limits outdoor water use to mornings only. The new outdoor watering schedules statewide are as follows:
• Odd numbered addresses may water on Tuesdays, Thursday and Sundays from midnight to 10 a.m.
• Even numbered and unnumbered addresses may water on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from midnight to 10 a.m.
"Every area of Georgia has been in a persistent and progressive drought condition since last June," said EPD Director Carol A. Couch. "It's important that we take steps now to prepare for the warm, typically dry summer months."
The drought declaration was made following a meeting today of the State Drought Response Committee. The committee includes representatives from several state, federal and local agencies, as well as university and non-government organizations
"March was very dry, and it's historically a very wet month in Georgia," climatologist David Stooksbury said. "That's one of the reasons we're in trouble now."