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Friday, January 18, 2008
Clayton County Included in Level 4 Drought Response
Customers Asked to Help Meet Required 10 Percent Reduction
Although the Clayton County Water Authority (CCWA) has adequate water supply, we are required to abide by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) Level 4 Drought Response and Governor Sonny Perdue's mandate for utilities to dcrease water usage by 10 percent compared to usage this time last year.
CCWA customers are asked to help meet this 10 percent reduction by finding ways to reduce their daily water usage by using water more efficiently. Below are some tips for reducing water usage in your home:
First of all, verify that your home is leak free. Read your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, there is a hidden leak.
In the Kitchen
Repair dripping faucets by replacing washers. If your faucet is dripping at the rate of one drop per second, you can expect to waste 2,700 gallons per year.
Retrofit older household faucets by installing aerators with flow restrictors.
Use food disposals sparingly. These units use a lot of water. Instead, scrape food scraps into your garbage can or create a compost pile.
In the Bathroom
Check for toilet leaks by adding a few drops of food coloring to the tank. Do not flush for at least 30 minutes. If the toilet is leaking, the color will appear in the bowl.
Repair all leaking faucets or toilets. Leaks are often caused by worn out flappers or worn out washers.
Replace your showerhead with an ultra low-flow version, saving up to 2.5 gallons per minute.
Replace older toilets with new, water-conserving models that only use 1.6 or 1.3 gallons per flush.
Under the Level Four drought response, no outdoor water use is allowed except under the following exemptions:
• Watering of food gardens is allowed, midnight to 10 a.m. daily.
• Watering of new landscape installed by a professionally certified or licensed landscaper is allowed for 30 days, midnight to 10 a.m. daily.
• Watering in of herbicide applied by a professionally certified or licensed landscaper is allowed on the day of application, no hour restrictions.
• Commercial water use by car washes, retail garden centers or commercial power washing is allowed, (such as a pressure washing business) no hour restrictions
• Car washing is only allowed at commercial car wash facilities
Charity car washes are no longer allowed.
CCWA customers who violate the Outdoor Water Ban will receive a verbal warning for the first offense; a written warning for the second offense and a citation for the third offense.
Any customer who receives a citation will have to appear before a Clayton County Magistrate Court Judge, who will then determine the amount of the fine, up to a maximum of $500 per day. To report outdoor water violators or a water leak, contact the CCWA Call Center at 770.961.2130.
What is the Water Authority doing to reduce its water use?
In order to reduce our usage, the Clayton County Water Authority (CCWA) has turned off the irrigation systems used at our facilities and reduced the frequency of hydrant flushing. Hydrant flushing is part of routine system maintenance to ensure Clayton County's water quality. While CCWA crews will continue to perform necessary hydrant flushing, we will reduce how often this is done.
We also continue to reduce system water loss through our Leak Detection Program, which allows us to track leaks within the 1,446 mile distribution system so that repairs can be made quickly. Our Leak Detection Program began operating in 2000 and is used as a model for other utilities in the state of Georgia.
Why does Clayton County have adequate water supply?
CCWA is fortunate to have planned for this type of drought beginning in the 1960's by building raw water reservoirs. Unlike systems in the metro area that rely on Lake Lanier for their water supply, Clayton County's reservoirs provide the main source of water, along with supplemental water pumped from the Flint River when needed. We also recycle treated wastewater through the innovative use of constructed wetlands.
Below are more tips on using water wisely:
Every Drop Counts - Tips from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs
•Even small leaks waste thousands of gallons of water and cost you money. Repair all leaks inside or outside of your home or business.
•Repair Dripping faucets by replacing washers. If your faucet is dripping at the rate of one drop per second, you can expect to waste 2,700 gallons per year.
•Check for toilet leaks by adding food coloring to the tank. If the toilet has a leak, color will appear in the bowl within 30 minutes.
•Replace your showerhead with an ultra low flow version, saving up to 2.5 gallons per minute.
•Fully load dishwashers.
•Only wash full loads in your washing machine, or adjust the water level to the load size.
•Do not let water run while brushing your teeth or shaving.
Background information on the current drought reponse:
On September 28, Georgia Environmental Protection Division EPD) Director Carol A. Couch declared a Level Four Drought response across the northern third of Georgia. Clayton County is included in this area. This Level Four Drought Response prohibits most types of outdoor residential water use, effective immediately.
"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 Couch. "All of the counties included in the level four declaration are located in areas of either exceptional or extreme drought."
The drought declaration was made following a meeting of the State Drought Response Committee. The Committee includes representatives from several state, federal and local agencies, as well as universities and non-government organizations. The EPD Director, working with State Climatologist David Stooksbury, consults with the Committee members and then determines the appropriate drought response.
"During a year of average rainfall, water levels in Georgia's large reservoirs such as Lanier and Allatoona tend to drop in late summer and then recover as the winter rains arrive," said State Climatologist Stooksbury. "But the forecast calls for a dry, mild winter and that could result in serious water supply problems by next spring."
Clayton County Water Authority customers can learn more about drought restrictions by visiting the EPD Web site at www.georgiaepd.com.
Detailed information on the drought can be found at http://www.georgiadrought.org/.
To learn more about water conservation, please go to the EPD Water Conservation web site at http://www.conservewatergeorgia.net.
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Media Contact:
Suzanne Brown, CCWA Public Information Officer
Office: 770.960.6972
Cell: 770.652.6560
Email: SBrown@ccwa1.com