Georgia Gardener Newsletter

Georgia Water Rules

As of today's date, there are 61 counties in north and central Georgia that are listed as under drought level 4 watering restrictions. Under this level, there is a total outdoor watering ban with some minor exemptions. Please note that some of these exemptions vary from county to county. These exemptions include, but are not limited to:

Irrigation from private wells
Irrigation of professionally installed landscapes for 30 days*
Irrigation of personal food plots
Irrigation using surface water (creek, lake, etc.) not exceeding 100,000 gallons per day
Irrigation using gray water from showers, tubs, rain barrels, dishwashers, washing machines, etc.

There are other exemptions that exist and some (*) that are prohibited depending upon the city, county or water provider.

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division has extensive information on their web site to help answer your questions about our current drought and the watering restrictions:

Landscape Professionals and Gardeners

Because each county, municipality or water provider can impose tighter restrictions than required by the state, it can be difficult to obtain up to date information.

The Metro Atlanta Landscape and Turf Association (MALTA) is keeping up to the minute restriction changes posted on their web site (click here).

County Contact Information

The table at the bottom consists of the 61 counties under the total ban and a telephone number that can be called to get additional information and/or to report violators. Some counties have websites with additional information that may or may not be updated as the restrictions change. For counties with multiple web pages, a link may be associated with the county name. If you find any errors or have a different (better/direct) numbers or websites, please email me.

Note: Some smaller counties do not have web sites or direct numbers to their water departments. Therefore, the main number for the county is listed. Hopefully, you will then be directed to the correct department.

Common Courtesy and Southern Charm

Before you call one of the numbers below to report a violation (especially if it's a homeowner in violation), give the person the benefit of the doubt and politely inform them that no outdoor watering is allowed. They may not know or may have an exemption. If you're uncomfortable talking to them, then leave a polite note on their mailbox explaining the severity of the problem. Most people will willingly comply if they are informed.

Drought Level 4 Counties

County Name	Phone Number(s)	Comments
Atlanta, City of	404-982-1414	website
Banks	706-778-3095
Barrow	770-307-3014	website
Bartow	770-387-5170	website
Butts	770-775-0042
Carroll	770-832-1277
Catoosa	706-965-2500
Chattooga	706-857-0700
Cherokee	678-493-2292 770-479-1813	website
Clarke	706-613-3729	website
Clayton	770-961-2130
Cobb	770-419-6278 770-423-1000	website
Coweta	770-254-3710	website
Dade	706-657-4341
Dawson	706-344-3501
DeKalb	770-621-7000 770-270-6243	website
Douglas	770-920-7269	website
Elbert	706-283-2000
Fannin	706-632-2203
Fayette	770-461-1146
Floyd	706-291-5130	website
Forsyth	678-513-5893 678-513-5854	Report Violations Online
Franklin	706-384-2483
Fulton (North)	770-640-3040
Fulton (cont)	678-297-6300 404-612-8097 770-640-4100 404-658-6500	Alpharetta (24/7) John's Creek, Milton, Mountain Park Roswell Sandy Springs
Gilmer	706-276-2202
Gordon	706-629-3795
Greene		Contact individual cities
Gwinnett	678-376-7100	Report Violations Online
Habersham	706-754-8159
Hall	770-535-6878	website
Haralson	770-646-5375
Harris	706-324-1175
Hart	706-377-4385
Heard	706-675-3358
Henry	770-957-6659
Jackson		Contact individual cities
Jasper	706-468-4900
Lincoln	706-359-5523
Lumpkin	706-867-6580
Madison	706-795-3473
Meriwether	706-672-1314
Morgan	706-342-0725
Murray	706-695-2413
Muscogee	706-649-3400	Columbus
Newton	770-787-1375
Oconee	706-769-3960
Oglethorpe	706-743-5270
Polk	770-748-6001
Paulding	770-222-6868
Pickens	706-253-8718
Rabun	706-782-5271
Rockdale	770-918-6512
Stephens	706-886-9491
Spalding	770-467-4208
Towns	706-896-2276
Troup	706-845-2000
Union	706-439-6000
Walker	706-820-1455
Walton	770-267-1301
White	706-865-2235
Whitfield	706-275-7500
Wilkes	706-678-2511

Last Updated: November 3, 2007