Jim Foster picks up clippings from his front yard as a sprinkler waters his lawn. Columbia County implements its water restrictions today. JIM BLAYLOCK/STAFF

Outdoor watering ban set

Columbia County implements first phase of restrictions as usage jumps with warm, dry weather

Web posted May 10, 2000

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By Jason B. Smith
Columbia County Bureau

Billy Clayton had his own version of meter shock Tuesday morning -- and that kicked the county's water restriction plan into high gear.

Beginning today, outdoor watering will be limited throughout the county, including in Harlem and Grovetown.

The decision to start the plan early was made after water usage climbed to 25 million gallons Monday -- one of the highest amounts ever and more than enough to catch the attention of county leaders. The county can produce about 30 million gallons per day.

``Our production was at 15 million gallons a day Friday and 25 million gallons Tuesday,'' said Mr. Clayton, director of Water and Sewer Services . ``That's a fairly significant jump.''

Water ban All outdoor watering is banned Mondays. Residents and businesses using an underground sprinkler system or more than one sprinkler connected to a hose are restricted to certain days. Even addresses can water Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday; odd addresses can water on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Watering with a single sprinkler head attached to a hose is allowed any day but Monday.

Under the plan, all outdoor watering is banned Mondays.

Residents and businesses using an underground sprinkler system or more than one sprinkler connected to a hose are restricted to certain days.

Even addresses can water Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday; odd addresses can water Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Watering with a single sprinkler head attached to a hose is allowed any day but Monday.

While the county now is asking residents to participate in the plan voluntarily, that could change during the coming weekend.

``We're going to go ahead and get a crew ready for this weekend, just in case we have to do something else,'' said Diane Ford, chairwoman of the county's Water and Sewer Services Committee.

Jay Foster spent Tuesday working in his Woodland Park yard with his wife, Phyllis. ``If there is any chance of there being a shortage, they need to conserve and we need to cooperate,'' he said as two sprinklers attached to two hoses sprayed behind him.``I'd hate to lose the grass and shrubbery, but we'll do what we have to.''

It doesn't look like the weather is going to help the situation. There's a 20 percent chance of rain in the forecast today, but none for the remainder of the week or weekend.

If weather conditions do not improve, officials will implement the second phase of the water restrictions: allowing watering only between 5 and 9 a.m. and 5 and 9 p.m. on the prescribed days. Also, residents using a single sprinkler on a hose would be brought in under the even/odd system. The third phase -- and most restrictive -- would ban all outdoor watering.

Meanwhile, officials in Richmond County are waiting until May 23 to start their plan, which will mirror Columbia County's.

``At this point, I have not heard anything different (about the starting date),'' said City Administrator Randy Oliver.

Mr. Oliver said using a plan similar to Columbia County's simplifies the rules.

``If you have something different for Aiken County, Richmond County and Columbia County, it gets a little confusing,'' he said.

And water officials in both Columbia and Richmond counties are waiting for several projects to be completed in hopes they will alleviate some of the supply problems.

In Columbia County, that's the addition of a 5 million gallon storage tank. In Richmond County, it's a 60-inch pipe from the Augusta Canal to the treatment plant on Highland Avenue, a 20-inch pipe to South Augusta and a 5 million gallon storage tank.

``I think it'll make a significant impact,'' Mr. Oliver said. ``We'll eliminate nearly every trouble spot.''

Reach Jason B. Smith at (706) 868-1222, Ext. 115.