At the beginning of the year, most of Georgia was in drought. Now, less than a third of the state is drier than usual.
But there are still water use rules in place in metro Atlanta, even though the drought has improved dramatically.
“We are looking better,” Jac Capp, chief of the water branch of Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division, said. But, “Lake Lanier, which is the primary source of drinking water for much of the metro Atlanta area — either from the lake directly, or from releases from the lake — the lake is still 6 1/2 feet below fill pool.”
Until the lake level looks better and streams flowing into the lake are higher, restrictions will likely stick around, including on lawn watering, car washing, and ornamental fountains.