WATER RESTRICTION INFORMATION

OUTDOOR WATER USE RULES
EFFECTIVE: June 2, 2010

The Georgia Water Stewardship Act went into effect statewide June 2, 2010, after being signed into law June 1 by Governor Sonny Perdue.

The law includes new provisions for landscape watering by irrigation systems. It allows for daily outdoor watering for purposes of planting, growing, managing or maintaining ground cover, trees, shrubs, or other plants, but only between the hours of 4 p.m. and 10 a.m.

The following outdoor water uses are allowed daily at any time:
-Commercial agriculture
-Alternative sources of water (reuse water, rain water, condensate, etc.)
-Irrigation of personal food gardens Irrigation of newly installed or reseeded turf for the first 30 days
-Drip irrigation or soaker hoses
-Hand watering with a shut-off nozzle or a handheld container
-Water from a private well
-Irrigation of plants for sale
-Irrigation of athletic fields, golf courses or public recreation turf
-Installation, maintenance or calibration of irrigation systems
-Hydroseeding

Outdoor water use for any purpose other than watering of plants, such as power washing or washing cars, is still restricted to the current odd/even watering schedule. Odd-numbered addresses (those ending with the number 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9) may use water for purposes other than landscape watering on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Even-numbered addresses (those ending with the number 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 or no number) may use water for purposes other than landscape watering on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. No hourly restrictions limit these activities.

Click here for frequently asked questions about outdoor water use.

Penalties for Violations
At their March 6, 2008 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 serviceAny 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.

Ordinance Regarding Enforcement of Water Restrictions