Water conservation stressed

GAINESVILLE - As as usually dry March comes to a close, the city of Gainesville is urging water conservation.

Through Thursday, the AccessNorthGa.com Weather Center had measured 3.60 inches of rain since March 1 - including 2.68 inches the first day of the month. That reading, however, has skewed the monthly total because since then - its been abnormally dry with only .92 recorded. That includes .37 on March 15 and .55 on March 16.

Officials point out that all of Georgia is under a mandatory year-round odd-even system for outdoor watering, with no watering permitted on Fridays or any day between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Even-numbered addresses may water on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Odd-numbered addresses may water on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Some frequently asked questions, according to city officials:

*If I draw water from Lake Lanier to water my lawn and have a permit, am I exempt? YES

*If I draw water from a well to water my lawn, am I exempt? YES

In both of the situations below, "we ask individuals to do their best to follow the state guidelines because the restrictions are not going away," Brian Wiley, Environmental Monitoring Coordinator for the City of Gainesville said.

*If I put out new begonias and new sod, am I exempt? YES, you are able to water 30 consecutive days for root establishment but you still are not able to water between 10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.

*Our church is doing a fund raiser. Can we have a car wash at our address on Sunday? YES but not between the hours of 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

*My grandmother wants me to pressure wash her house on my day off. Is it okay to do this on Saturday? YES, but you have to be done by 10:00 a.m. or start after 4:00 p.m.

*A pressure washing company has a commercial and detailing license. Could I hire them to pressure wash my grandmother's house instead when they have time? YES, they are exempt because they have a license and it is their livelihood .

*Is it a violation if I take my car into a car wash bay, regardless of the day and time to wash it? NO, this water is re-captured and is re-collected.

For more information on water conservation call Brian Wiley, at 770-532-7462 or go to the Gainesville website www.gainesville.org and click on Public Utilities.