Local residents who get their water from the Bear Creek Reservoir will face additional restrictions on outdoor watering starting Saturday.
Water customers of the Jackson County Water and Sewerage Authority, Jefferson, Hoschton and Braselton will be able to irrigate lawns and landscapes only one day a week — Saturdays for those whose addresses end in even numbers and Sundays for those ending in odd numbers, between the hours of 4 p.m. and 10 a.m..
The restrictions, aimed at cutting water use by five percent, were approved Wednesday by the Upper Oconee Basin Water Authority, the group comprising Jackson, Clarke, Barrow and Oconee counties that owns and manages the regional reservoir.
There are numerous exemptions. Residents can still hand-water yards and landscapes whenever they want. They can also irrigate newly-installed lawns and landscapes as needed for 30 days after installation, and nurseries and stores that sell plants can water them as needed.
The measures are being implemented to slow the use of water from the reservoir, which is about 12 feet below full pool and is only 4.6 feet from the lowest level it reached in the drought of 2007. Without rain, the reservoir is expected to be about 16 feet below full pool by the end of the year, but officials are confident it will recharge before spring, based on their experience with the 2007 drought.
The restrictions do not apply to customers of Commerce and the Nicholson Water Authority, who get their water from the city reservoir and wells respectively. There are currently no restrictions on water use for Commerce and Nicholson customers.
