On April 27, 2026, after consideration of the drought severity and the water resource impacts, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) declared a statewide Drought Response Level 1 for public water systems that use surface water and/or groundwater. 

To determine the appropriate level of drought response, the EPD considers several factors, including precipitation, stream flows, groundwater, reservoir levels, short-term climate predictions, and soil moisture. EPD monitors and produces publicly available reports on these conditions on a regular basis. 

The Level 1 Drought Response does not include any additional water restrictions, but residents should take actions to conserve water. The Athens-Clarke County Unified Government (ACCGov) Public Utilities Department asks residents to follow the water use schedule required under the Georgia Water Stewardship Act of 2010. General outdoor water use statewide is limited year-round to the hours between 4:00 PM and 10:00 AM, although there several exceptions to this limitation listed at www.accgov.com/drought. 

“Now is the time to implement water conservation measures around homes and businesses to reduce demand on our water supply,” says Water Conservation Coordinator Jackie Sherry. Sherry encourages Athens-Clarke County water customers to follow the outdoor water use schedule and use water wisely both indoors and out at all times. 

Additional tips for conserving water are available at the ACCGov Public Utilities drought webpage at www.accgov.com/drought. The Georgia EPD’s website at epd.georgia.gov/drought provides additional water conservation tips, as well as information on drought indicators, current variances, and EPD actions regarding drought. 

For more information, contact Jackie Sherry, Public Utilities Department Water Conservation Coordinator, at 706-613-3729 or [email protected].