The Bear Creek Reservoir in Jackson Co. is dropping and that has prompted Athens-Clarke County to change its outdoor watering restrictions.

The 505 acre reservoir supplies drinking water to Barrow, Clarke, Jackson, and Oconee Counties. It was full on the first day of July, but with little rainfall since then, the reservoir has dropped 10 feet to 70% full. With no additional rainfall, the reservoir will drop 3" a day.

Watering restrictions for residents of Athens-Clarke County are now consistent with the other counties that use Bear Creek. In all 4 counties, most outdoor water use is banned on weekdays. On the weekends, even-numbered addresses can water on Saturdays except from 10am to 4pm. On Sunday, odd-numbered addresses can water except from 10am to 4pm.

There are plenty of exceptions as to who can water and when, so check with your local water provider. In fact I checked on water restrictions for metro Atlanta and each county is different and each has their own set of exceptions.

The good news is that we are getting to the end of the growing season, so outdoor watering is pretty much a moot point. However, with rainfall scarce, I am concerned with next spring.

Check out the map that shows percent of rainfall since the beginning of the year. Most of Georgia is very dry. Atlanta is down 8.25", Athens nearly 10". Just in the last three months, these areas have only recorded 48% of their average rainfall.

I am still hopeful for some tropical rains, but until that happens, the dry areas will only get drier. Peace.