Water resctrictions across county

Summer is officially here, and lawns and flowers need water.

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But when Columbia County residents may water depends on where they live.

Columbia County, Grovetown and Harlem governments each have varying restrictions on outdoor watering.

Residents in the unincorporated areas of the county who are on the county's water system are allowed to water three days per week. Residents with even-numbered addresses are allowed to water any time on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Those with odd-numbered addresses may water on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

No outdoor watering is allowed on Mondays.

"This is as good as it gets," said Billy Clayton, the director of the county Water Utility.

The county complies with state mandates, which is the Level 1 outdoor watering guidelines in effect for non-drought times.

"This is just the lowest it goes," Clayton said, adding that some kind of water conservation plan is now a permanent fixture statewide. "There is no step below this one."

Violations of the outdoor watering restrictions can lead to fines and even disconnection of service for repeat offenders, Clayton said.

Grovetown and Harlem officials opted to make their outdoor watering guidelines more strict than state mandates.

Grovetown residents with even-numbered address may water from midnight to 10 a.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Those with odd-numbered address may water from midnight to 10 a.m. Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Like the county, no watering is allowed on Mondays.

Grovetown's stricter constraints will remain in effect until the installation of a larger water tank, which is part of a project to upgrade the city's water system, said Michael Woods, the city's Public Works director.

"Right now, it is because of the construction issue," Woods said.

The 250,000-gallon water tank off Robinson Avenue will be replaced with a 750,000-gallon tank to help eliminate future water shortages, Woods said.

Crews are working to complete installation and hope to have the tank operational this summer.

Woods said any additional water-saving steps residents opt for, such as restricting car washing and checking for leaking faucets, would help even more.

"If they would like to take further measures, that would be great," he said. "Everything would help."

Outdoor watering guidelines also are more stringent than the state mandates in Harlem as a preventive conservation effort, said City Manager Jean Dove.

"We actually keep it in effect year-around," Dove said.

Residents with even-numbered addresses are allowed to water 5-9 a.m. and 5-9 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Those with odd-numbered addresses may water 5-9 a.m. and 5-9 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Again, watering on Mondays is not allowed.