Effective April 1, 2008, Forsyth County will modify its outdoor water use restrictions, allowing for the filling of swimming pools and for limited hand watering. 

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners approved the revisions, along with modifications to the administrative process for water restriction violations, at their March 6 meeting.

Swimming Pools
Starting April 1, the filling of installed pools is permitted. 

Hand Watering
Starting April 1, each household, business or other institution/property owner will be allowed to hand water existing landscaping using one garden hose for 25 minutes a day within the hours of midnight to 10 a.m. on designated days.  The hose must be hand held during watering and equipped with a standard spray nozzle that automatically turns off when not hand held.

• Odd-numbered addresses (addresses ending with the number 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9) may hand water on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
• Even-numbered addresses (addresses ending with the number 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 or no number) may hand water on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
• No watering is allowed on Fridays. Exemptions Forsyth County did not adopt changes regarding the watering of newly installed landscaping.

A 30-day exemption for new landscaping remains in place. The previously adopted level 4 drought restrictions accompanied by the following enhanced restrictions approved by the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners on October 4, 2007 shall continue in full force and effect.

Over-seeding of warm weather grasses such as Bermuda, Centipede and Zoysia with annual grasses for aesthetic purposes is not considered new landscape and therefore is not entitled to the exemptions.

Watering of any new plant or flower that is not a perennial is not entitled to the exemption, which is only for the establishment of permanent type plants, shrubs and grasses, not plants for decoration and color that will die at the end of the season.

Watering in of Pesticides and Herbicides
Watering in of pesticides and herbicides is allowed any time of day only on the day of application (by using an irrigation system or by hand watering) after application by a professional contractor.

Watering in of pesticides and herbicides is not a 30-day process and does not receive a 30-day exemption. However, hand watering in of pesticides and herbicides can be achieved by the homeowner during the 25-minute period on designated watering days during the allowed hours.

Food Gardens
Food gardens remain exempt from the water use restrictions.

Commercial Exemptions
Drought level 4 commercial exemptions remain as previously adopted.

Mandated Reduction
Governor Sonny Perdue’s mandate for a 10 percent water use reduction remains in effect. Forsyth County residents are reminded that water conservation remains imperative to the county meeting this reduction goal. “It is very important for Forsyth County water customers to remain conservation minded,” said Director of Water and Sewer Tim Perkins. “We are still required to meet the Governor’s mandate for reduction, so it is vital that all water customers continue water conservation measures.”

Penalties for Violations
At their March 6 meeting, the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners adopted an amendment to Chapter 18, Article VI of the Forsyth County Code of Ordinances (Ordinance #88 – Water Use Ordinance) to modify the enforcement provisions for violations of the Code and for other lawful purposes.

These revised penalties became effective March 7, 2008. The approved modifications allow for the levying of administrative fines for water restriction violations. Fines are cumulative for a 24-month period and will appear on customer’s water bills.

• First Violation: Written notice posted at the property where the violation occurred
• Second Violation: $100 administrative penalty placed upon water bill of the service address where violation occurred
• Third Violation: $500 administrative penalty placed upon water bill of the service address where violation occurred

Fourth and Subsequent Violations: $1,000 administrative penalty placed upon water bill of the service address where violation occurred and service termination, plus applicable charges for reconnection of service

Any administrative penalties imposed shall be payable to the Water and Sewer Department as part of the customer’s regular bill for water service and shall not be affected by the filing of any appeal. Any customer receiving such a penalty may request and be granted an appeal hearing before the Forsyth County Zoning Board of Appeals. The appellate fee is set at $50.