Forsyth County residents are encouraged to follow guidelines set for outdoor water use and to be aware of the state-mandated watering ban...
The Forsyth County Water and Sewer Department has announced that both raw water pumps that have recently been replaced are back in service and stored water supplies have recovered. While the immediate problems have been remedied, Forsyth County continues to have extreme outdoor water usage that must be reduced in the years to come.
Forsyth County has the highest percentage of outdoor water use of all counties in the surrounding 16-county region. "Irrigation can not continue at that level," said Water and Sewer Director Tim Perkins. "We are currently drafting the state-required, tiered rate structure by which higher costs will be charged for higher water consumption."
Citizens should also be aware of the state-mandated, year-round watering ban in place. The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners voted on June 28, 2004 to adopt the State of Georgia watering ban; non-drought regulations are currently in effect.
OUTDOOR WATER USE FOR NON-DROUGHT PERIODS
• Even numbered addresses (house number ending with the number 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 or no house number): outdoor water use is allowed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
• Odd numbered addresses (house number ending with the number 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9): outdoor water use is allowed on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.
• No watering is permitted on Fridays
Failure to comply with the state-mandated ban can result in a written warning, a citation to appear in Magistrate Court, fines up to $1,000 and/or 60 days in jail as well as disconnection of service.
The Forsyth County Water and Sewer Department offers several tips for residents to help reduce their water usage:
• When building or remodeling, plan your landscape or garden to minimize water needs.
• Water thoroughly, but less frequently. Doing so promotes a deeper grass root system to withstand dry weather better.
• During periods of limited rainfall, reduce the amount of fertilizer applied to avoid water-demanding new growth.
• When planting a garden, group vegetables needing more water together so you can apply water more efficiently.
• Use a rain sensor that will automatically turn off sprinklers when it is raining
• Check hoses, faucets and water devices periodically for leaks and malfunctions that can waste large amounts of water.
• Many people over water. Reduce your irrigation time by 25%, monitor your lawn and then adjust accordingly.
Additional information regarding restrictions and conservation tips can be found on the Water and Sewer Department Page at www.forsythco.com .
