Residents Struggle With Water Restrictions

"Well, I recall water restrictions when we had a drought," said Northeast Cobb resident Sue Branson, as a sprinkler sputtered water onto her house's green lawn. "I wasn't aware we were still doing that."

A drive through Northeast Cobb subdivisions on Friday found many lawns being watered, proving that some residents aren't aware that the water restrictions are in place. They risk fines and water service disconnection for violation.

Warnings are issued for a first offense. Second, and each subsequent time results in escalating fines for each offense up to $500, water service disconnection, as well as prosecution, according to The Cobb County Water System office.

According to the county's Water Restrictions Page, on June 1, 2010, Governor Perdue signed the Water Stewardship Act into law.  The law has new provisions for landscape watering.  You may water landscapes any day between the hours of 4 p.m. and 10 a.m. 

Newly installed landscape may be watered every day for 30 days without hourly restrictions.

Car washing, charity car washes, pressuring washing and other outdoor water uses must follow the odd/even schedule.  Even addresses may use water for purposes other than landscape watering on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, Odd addresses may use water on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.

Sports fields and parks are exempt from the hourly restrictions. These areas may be watered any time any day of the week.

Drip irrigation is completely exempt from the outdoor rules it may be used any day or any time.

The following exemptions exist to the new hourly restrictions:

• Commercial Agriculture.

• Alternative sources of water (grey water, rain water, condensate, etc.)
• Irrigation of 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.
• Water from a private well.
• Irrigation of plants for sale.
• Irrigation of athletic fields, golf courses or public recreational turf.
• Installation and maintenance of irrigation systems.
• Hydroseeding.

For more information or further clarification please review the county's frequently asked questions and outdoor water use quick guide.

To receive further information or to report a concern about the water ban you may call 770-419-6278 24-hours a day/7 days a week. Leave a message.

For more information on proper plant and landscape maintenance visit www.cobbwater.org/efficiency.html or call the Water Efficiency Office at 770-419-6244.