Drought Continues to Worsen

Drought conditions are worsening across northeast Georgia.

On Thursday, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division declared a Level One Drought Response for Stephens and Franklin counties.

This came on the same day that Stephens and Franklin counties moved into “exceptional drought” status on the U.S. Drought Monitor, the most severe level of drought on that scale.

Under a Level One Drought Response, public water systems like the city of Toccoa are required to spread a message to consumers to conserve water, but there are no mandatory restrictions put in place.

Toccoa City Manager Billy Morse said conservation is certainly a good idea with the worsening drought conditions.

“I think it is probably always a good thing to conserve the resources that we have,” said Morse. “We would encourage our customers to conserve water where they can because not only will it benefit our community, but it might benefit some of our friends in other counties around the state of Georgia.”

Morse said, however, that Toccoa has an excellent supply of water even in drought times due to leadership 30 years ago.

He noted that the city has three different lakes that can supply water.

“Lake Toccoa, which I think most people are familiar with near the water plant, is the one I think most people are familiar with,” said Morse. “It is our primary water source. A secondary source is Davidson Lake in the National Forest off Black Mountain Road. We basically pump from Davidson Lake every day to keep Lake Toccoa full, so that can supply the water plant. Our third source of water, you could almost consider it an emergency supply of water, is from Yonah Lake.”

Morse went on to say that the city does not always pull from Yonah, but is doing so now.

“We often go several years in between using Yonah water, but we have had to use it this year just because of the extreme drought situation,” said Morse.

Morse also said that the city’s ability to sell water to Franklin, Habersham, and Banks counties is not affected at this time, nor do those sales have any negative effect on the city’s ability to supply water to Stephens County customers.

While Stephens and Franklin counties are only in a Level One Drought Response, Habersham and Banks counties have been upgraded to a Level Two Drought Response, joining 50 other counties in the state.

Under a Level 2 Drought Response, the Georgia EPD said outdoor landscape watering is only allowed two days a week determined by odd and even-numbered addresses. Even-numbered addresses and properties without numbered addresses may water on Wednesday and Saturday between 4:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m., while odd-numbered addresses may water Thursday and Sunday between 4:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m.

The EPD said a Level 2 Drought Response also includes a number of prohibited outdoor water uses including:

• Washing hard surfaces such as streets and sidewalks
• Water for ornamental purposes, such as fountains
• The use of fire hydrants, except for firefighting and public safety
• Non-commercial washing of vehicles
• Non-commercial pressure washing
• Fundraising car washes