Statewide drought pushes Georgia officials to start conservation campaign
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Georgia officials are urging local water systems and the public to curb water usage as nearly all of the state experiences one of the worst droughts in decades.
Why it matters: Spring is an unusual time for Georgia to experience droughts, which tend to take place during late summer.
- The measures could fend off stringent restrictions, including bans on outdoor watering or nonessential uses like car washes or fountains, if the drought continues.
Driving the news: The Georgia Environmental Protection Division this week directed public water systems to educate the public about conservation and water usage after declaring a Level 1 drought.
In the weeds: Officials gauge rainfall, soil moisture, and reservoir and groundwater levels, among other indicators, to make a drought level declaration.
Reality check: Recent showers did little to help Georgia climb out of its rainfall deficit. The National Weather Service's Atlanta office said we're seeing "the largest drought footprint in the state in almost twenty years."
Threat level: Drought conditions are helping to fuel wildfires in south Georgia that have destroyed more than 120 homes and burned tens of thousands of acres, Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick reports.
What they're saying: "I want people, our fellow Georgians, and people around the country, to understand that a little bit of rain is going to help us, but it's not going to get us out of this situation," Gov. Brian Kemp said during a Tuesday wildfire briefing.
- "And we're going to be dealing with this for quite a while."
What you can do: Watering lawns and landscaping usually consumes the bulk of a household's water, so turn on the sprinklers outside of the peak heat hours and for shorter periods of time.
- Inside, fix your leaky faucets, turn off the water when brushing your teeth, and wait until the dishwasher and clothes washer are full before running them.
Fun fact: Georgia laws prohibits watering lawns and landscaping between 10am and 4pm, drought or no drought, all year round.
What we're watching: If conditions worsen, officials could declare a Level 2 drought. The designation allows officials to further limit when people can water their lawns and temporarily ban nonessential uses.