With drought conditions deepening across the state, one metro Atlanta county is taking steps to restrict water use.
Coweta County implemented the stringent water restrictions on Oct. 3. Under a Level 2 drought response, outdoor watering of plants and ground cover is limited to two days a week on an odd-even schedule, based on street addresses.
Washing hard surfaces, such as streets and sidewalks, using water for ornamental purposes, non-commercial pressure washing and car washing and the use of fire hydrants except for firefighting is also banned.
A Level 2 drought response was also enacted in the city of Griffin in September. The restrictions are in place until Dec. 31.
A new drought monitor released Thursday by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division shows more of the state is in a severe or extreme form of drought. More than 28% of the state is in severe drought, up from 16% last week.
None of North Georgia was in an extreme drought last week, but extreme conditions have settled in this week for a few counties north and south of Atlanta, including the northern part of Coweta.
Since the start of September, less than an inch of rain has fallen in Atlanta.
"Our drought index is actually higher at this point in October than it was in October of 2016, when we had all those wildfires issues," Seth Hawkins with the Georgia Forestry Commission told Channel 2 Action News.
Some rain in the weekend forecast could help, Channel 2 meteorologist Brian Monahan said. A cold front moving through Saturday morning is expected to bring a few isolated showers before it stalls across North Georgia.
Monahan said Saturday has a 30% chance of rain, and the chance has increased to 40% for Sunday with the latest forecast.
“This front is going to stick around for a couple of days, so some better chances of rain as we look into early next week,” he said. “This is much needed with our drought situation.”
For more information on the water restrictions in Coweta County, visit cowetawater.com. More information on the state's drought response can be found on the EPD's website.
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