Despite rainfall Level 2 drought response remains in effect

Paulding Water System Director Laurie Ashmore spoke to the BoC last week regarding the continuing Level 2 drought response. Conditions remain unfavorably dry despite some recent showers in the region. “It’s odd when it’s raining outside and we’re in here talking about drought, but we’re still in an exceptional and extreme drought situation here in Paulding County,” Ms. Ashmore said.
Ashmore said that things have been improving in the region, since the end of November, and moving out of extreme drought in some of the southern metro counties.
But Ashmore said some areas of the state are still in extreme drought conditions and are expected to persist into the foreseeable future. “The word is that the drought is predicted to persist through this winter,” she said. “The word we tend to be using lately is that we need to be acting responsibly with our water...not only during a drought -- but all the time,” she said.
And Paulding commissioners during their afternoon session voted to adopt Resolution 16-53 amending Chapter 74 of the Code of Ordinances regarding outdoor water use to incorporate the drought response levels required by state regulations for the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District and to further provide for the enforcement of those provisions.
On November 17, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) declared a Level 2 Drought Response for a 52-county area, which includes Paulding County. A severe drought has persisted through the fall. From March through October, rainfall is nearly 13 inches below normal. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted that dry, warm weather will persist through the winter. During a Level 2 Drought Response, outdoor landscape watering is only allowed two days a week and determined by odd and even-numbered addresses. Even-numbered addresses and properties without numbered addresses may water on Wednesday and Saturday before 10 a.m. and after 4:00 p.m. Odd-numbered addresses may water Thursday and Sunday before 10 a.m. and after 4:00 p.m.
Ashmore told commissioners that the following outdoor water uses are prohibited during a Level 2 Drought Response: washing hard surfaces such as streets and sidewalks, water for ornamental purposes such as fountains, the use of fire hydrants except for firefighting, public safety and flushing, non-commercial vehicle washing including fundraising car washes, and non-commercial pressure washing. More water conservation information and detailed information about the drought response is available at http://epd.georgia.gov/water- conservation; http://northgeorgiawater.org/current-water- stats/drought-status.

Released December 15, 2016. “The Drought Monitor focuses on broad-scale conditions.” Darkest areas depicting the north part of the state indicate “severe” to “extreme” and even “exceptional” for the darkest area. Drought is expected to persist through the winter. (US Drought Monitor -- Anthony Artusa, NOAA/NWS/NCEP/CPC