Outdoor Water Use Restrictions

In 2015, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Board adopted new drought management rules related to outdoor water use, replacing former rule provisions and the 2003 Drought Management Plan. These new rules require specific drought response strategies during different levels of declared droughts. In March 2018, the Drought Response Level 1 was lifted for Gwinnett and 11 other counties.

Currently, the entire state is following a non-drought outdoor water use schedule. The year-round non-drought outdoor watering schedule allows landscape and lawn irrigation before 10:00am and after 4:00pm. Visit the Georgia Environmental Protection Division website for more information on the non-drought outdoor water use schedule.

We encourage water conservation year-round and partner with residents to conserve water. Contact us at dwrconserve@gwinnettcounty.com with any questions about the outdoor watering schedule.

Exemptions

• Commercial agricultural operations as defined in Code Section 1-3-3
• Capture and reuse of cooling system condensate or storm water in compliance with applicable local ordinances and state guidelines
• Reuse of gray water in compliance with Code Section 31-3-5.2 and applicable local board of health regulations adopted pursuant thereto
• Use of reclaimed waste water by a designated user from a system permitted by the Environmental Protection Division of the department to provide reclaimed waste water
• Irrigation of personal food gardens
• Irrigation of new and replanted plant, seed, or turf in landscapes, golf courses, or sports turf fields during installation and for a period of 30 days immediately following the date of installation
• Drip irrigation or irrigation using soaker hoses
• Hand watering with a hose with automatic cutoff or handheld container
• Use of water withdrawn from private water wells or surface water by an owner or operator of property if such well or surface water is on said property
• Irrigation of horticultural crops held for sale, resale, or installation
• Irrigation of athletic fields, golf courses, or public turf grass recreational areas
• Installation, maintenance, or calibration of irrigation systems
• Hydro seeding