Fayette County Water System calls for voluntary cutbacks as Georgia declares statewide drought
A Level 1 Drought Declaration issued April 27 puts Fayette County customers on a two-day-per-week irrigation schedule — and officials warn mandatory restrictions could follow if conditions worsen.
Source: fayettecountyga.gov
Fayette County Water System customers are being asked to cut back on outdoor watering after Georgia's Environmental Protection Division declared a statewide Level 1 Drought Response on April 27, 2026 — a move driven by rainfall deficits of six to twelve inches recorded across the state over the past six months.
The Water System is requesting that all customers voluntarily limit outdoor irrigation to two days per week, following an odd-even address schedule: even-numbered addresses may water on Wednesdays and Saturdays; odd-numbered addresses on Thursdays and Sundays. Those restrictions layer on top of Georgia's year-round rule that outdoor irrigation is only permitted between 4 p.m. and 10 a.m.
Outdoor watering places additional strain on our water supply. We encourage everyone to follow the voluntary odd-even irrigation schedule. By doing so we can all contribute to preserving our water. If conditions become more severe, we may move to a Level 2 Drought declaration, making these restrictions mandatory. Everyone's cooperation makes a big difference.— Vanessa Tigert, Water System Director
The scale of the drought across Georgia puts the local ask in context. According to EPD's April 2026 Drought Indicator Analysis, much of South Georgia is experiencing Exceptional Drought — the most severe classification — while large portions of north central and northeast Georgia are under Extreme Drought conditions.
Under a Level 1 declaration, public water systems are required by state Drought Management Rules to run a public information campaign explaining drought's impact on water supplies. Outdoor watering hours are not further restricted at this level beyond the standing 4 p.m.–10 a.m. window, according to EPD.
The Water System notes that during periods of high demand, excessive outdoor use can strain the distribution system and reduce water pressure — affecting not just irrigation but drinking water, sanitation, and emergency services. A move to Level 2 would make the current voluntary schedule mandatory.
Georgia's current Drought Management Rules were adopted by the DNR Board on June 24, 2015, replacing earlier provisions and the 2003 Drought Management Plan. EPD held virtual briefings for public water systems and permittees on April 21, 2026 — six days before the formal declaration — and gathered input from affected permittees over a three-business-day period before the Director signed the declaration.
Why it matters — If voluntary conservation proves insufficient and EPD escalates to Level 2, the two-day watering schedule becomes mandatory for all Fayette County Water System customers — with potential penalties for non-compliance.
⚠ Not yet confirmed
- As of mid-2026, the Level 1 declaration for Fayette County had not been escalated, lifted, or formally changed
Reported by fayettecountyga.gov, epd.georgia.gov
