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Marietta water staff: state declared Level 1 drought; utilities to promote watering schedule
Summary
Marietta Water staff told the board May 11 that the Georgia Environmental Protection Division declared a Level 1 drought on April 27, requiring outreach on efficient outdoor watering (before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m.) under the 2010 Water Stewardship Act; no mandatory restrictions at Level 1.
Marietta Water informed the Board of Water and Light on May 11 that the Georgia Environmental Protection Division declared a Level 1 drought on April 27 and that utilities must encourage efficient water use while following the standard outdoor watering schedule from the 2010 Water Stewardship Act.
Kim Holland, speaking for Marietta Water, said the declaration was prompted by 12 months of below-average rainfall and emphasized that Level 1 does not impose extra mandatory use restrictions. Holland summarized the watering guidance: outdoor watering should occur before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. to reduce evaporation and conserve supply.
Holland said the utility is communicating the guidance via social media, the utility website, and bill inserts. She added that escalation to Level 2 would require actual outdoor water restrictions and that enforcement, if any, would be handled by the state Environmental Protection Division, which issues water operating permits.
The board also heard operational and financial updates related to water service. A Cobb County water authority representative reported average daily water sales around 71,000,000 gallons and monthly water sales revenue of about $8.4 million; staff noted ongoing capital projects and that one linear project (Mars Hill to Pine Mountain) finished a year ahead of schedule. Finance staff warned that wholesale water usage for the month was unusually high—characterized as the highest for that month in more than a decade—and that staff are monitoring the trend closely.
Board members asked for clarification about enforcement and potential future restrictions; staff reiterated that Level 1 is primarily education and outreach, and that enforcement measures would be a state decision if the drought level escalates.
What’s next: Marietta Water will continue customer outreach on efficient watering and update the board if the drought status changes or if Level 2 restrictions are required.
