"The drought of 2007 has reached historic proportions, so it's critical that we take immediate action to ensure that Georgians have a sufficient supply of safe drinking water," said EPD Director Carol A. Couch.

Here in Marietta, we all share the same water resources so we must all work together to conserve and preserve these resources for our future. Please adhere to outdoor water restrictions and look for ways to conserve water in your home and business. We ask all of our customers to reduce water usage by 10%. In this reduction you will not only lower your water and wastewater bill, but you will help ensure our water resources will last longer.

• Conservation information
• Toilet rebate information
• Drought Response Plan
• Corp of Engineers Lake Info
• Drought Response Unified Command

 

Declared Drought Response Level 4 (modified)

Marietta Water personnel and the Marietta Police Department will continue to monitor outdoor water use and irrigation meter readings. Illegal usage will initiate enforcement actions. Offenses are strictly enforced and can result in escalating fines for each offense up to $500 and water service disconnection.

The following uses are prohibited:

1. Using hydrants for any purpose other than firefighting, public health, safety or flushing.
   
2. Washing hard surfaces, such as streets, gutters, sidewalks, driveways, except when necessary for public health and safety
   
3. Washing vehicles, such as cars, boats, trailers, motorbikes, airplanes, golf carts.
   
4. Washing buildings or structures except for immediate fire protection.
   
5. Non-commercial fund-raisers, such as car washes.
   
6. Using water for ornamental purposes, such as fountains, reflecting pools, and waterfalls except when necessary to support aquatic life.

Note: Irrigation of personal food gardens is unrestricted.

 

Landscaping

1. Effective March 1, 2008, hand watering of existing landscaping, defined as one person with one hose with a shut off nozzle, will be allowed for 25 minutes a day, on the odd/even watering schedule. Even and unnumbered addresses may water Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, and odd addresses may water on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 10:00 AM. Irrigation systems may not be run under this exemption.
2. Effective April 1, 2008, an exemption is provided for new landscape installations:
   1. These new installations may be watered for a period of 10 weeks following installation on the odd/even-watering schedule.
   2. Only newly installed landscaping may be watered by irrigation system; all other watering must follow the hand watering exemption.
   3. Irrigation systems may be used to water newly installed landscaping, between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 10:00 AM.
   4. In order to qualify for a new landscape exemption, the customer must enroll in the Urban Agriculture Council's online Water Conservation Class at www.urbanagcouncil.com.
3. Only one new landscape exemption (as discussed above) will be permitted per planting season as defined as fall (September-March), and spring (April- August). Invoices from a licensed landscaper will include the date of installation, location of installation, and the type of installation performed. These invoices/receipts and forms obtained from the online class must be submitted to Marietta Water in order to receive the exemption. FAX 770-794-2286.

 

Pools

1. Effective April 1, 2008, public and private pools, previously prohibited in Drought Response Level 4, will be permitted to open and be topped off as necessary for maintenance.
2. New pools will be permitted to be filled with municipal water.
3. Pools must be covered during the off-season, rather than drained. Pools should not be drained for cleaning and maintenance prior to being opened. Due to limited water resources, chemical treatment should be used to resolve maintenance issues.
4. Failure to comply with the above pool policy can result in a water waste penalty in accordance with the schedule listed below.

 

Water Waste Penalty

Effective April 1, 2008, the structure of the Water Waste Penalty is: for the first offense, a written warning; the second offense, a $100.00 fine; the third offense, a $500.00 fine; and fourth and subsequent violations, a $500.00 fine and discontinuance of water service. In order to encourage the efficient use of outdoor water and the proper maintenance of irrigation systems and pools, the following activities will be subject to a Water Waste Penalty:

1. A broken irrigation system (missing heads, broken pipes, etc.)
2. Excessive runoff - water running down the driveway, street, or sidewalk.
3. A hose running unattended without a shutoff nozzle.

The following commercial outdoor water uses are exempt except as noted:

1. Professionally certified or licensed landscapers, golf course contractors, and sports turf landscapers: during installation and as explained above. Professional landscapers must be certified or licensed for commercial exemption
2. Irrigation contractors: during installation and as needed for proper maintenance and adjustments only
3. Sod producers
4. Ornamental growers
5. Fruit and vegetable growers
6. Retail garden centers
7. Hydro-seeding
8. Power-washing
   • Pressure washing of parking lots is prohibited
   • Pressure washing of buildings for beautification is prohibited
   • Pressure washing will be allowed when required prior to a procedure such as painting
   • Pressure washing will be allowed for health and safety
9. Construction sites
10. Producers of food and fiber
11. Car washes
    • Car washing of new and used vehicles at car lots is prohibited, unless they have a car wash operating with a water recycling system.
    • Car washes operating with a water recycling system will be exempt from the 90 percent surcharge applied to commercial customers.
12. Other activities essential to daily business
13. Watering-in of pesticides and herbicides on turf
14. Golf course irrigation of greens only

 

Water Service Leaks

• Marietta Water personnel currently notify the customer or leave a door hanger at any address where a slow leak is detected. Customers must now have the leak repaired within 10 days or water service will be shut off.
• For leaks greater than 1 gallon per minute Marietta Water personnel will continue to notify the customer and shut off the water service until the leak is repaired.

 

Restaurants

• Marietta Water asks that all food service establishments "serve water only upon request" as a conservation measure.

For more information, call 770-794-5229.