Officials Urge Water Conservation Amid Extreme Drought
The City of Douglas and Coffee County are now experiencing Exceptional Drought (D4) conditions, the most severe drought category. With drought intensifying across Georgia, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) has issued a Level 1 Drought Response.
Immediately, Douglas residents and businesses are encouraged to begin practicing water conservation. Recommended steps include:
- Follow the Outdoor Water Schedule. Only water outdoors between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. Make sure your sprinklers are watering the landscaping and not the house, sidewalks, or street.
- Check for and Fix Water Leaks. Check and fix the leakage of water, faucets, and toilets. Small leakage that is not improved can cause significant waste of water
- Take shorter showers. Spend less time in the shower. You can also use a showerhead designed to reduce water flow. When taking a bath, don’t fill the bathtub too full.
- Turn off the faucet when not in use. Turn off the water faucet when washing teeth, washing hands, or rinsing a plate to avoid unnecessary water waste.
- Collect rainwater. If it rains, use a bucket to collect rainwater that can be used to water plants.
- Limit water use for household tasks. Fill the washing machine and dishwasher full and limit car washing.
EPD also provides up-to-date drought indicators, current variances, and official drought actions at: https://epd.georgia.gov/about-us/watershed-protection-branch/drought-management. For further information on the Level 1 Drought Declaration and exceptions please see: https://epd.georgia.gov/watershed-protection-branch/water-conservation.