It

didn't take long for state environmental

officials to tighten outdoor watering

restrictions on Fayette and 14 other metro

Atlanta counties.

The

state Environmental Protection Division (EPD)

announced yesterday that those counties must

abide by an odd-even watering system. That's on

top of the 12-hour outdoor watering ban that was

implemented last week by the EPD, effective 10

a.m.-10 p.m. daily.

Homes

with addresses ending in odd numbers will be

allowed to water on odd-numbered days of the

month, while homes with addresses ending in even

numbers will be allowed to water on even-numbered

days of the month.

The

Fayette County water system responded to the

original EPD ban by lifting its odd-even water

restrictions,

But

the combination of those two actions took a toll

on the local water system, which had to purchase

an average of 1.2 million gallons daily from the

city of Atlanta. The extra water was needed to

meet the increased demand in a smaller window of

time, said Russell Ray, the assistant director of

the Fayette County Water System.

"That

(1.2 million gallons) is a relatively small

amount," Ray said, adding that Lake Kedron

is down an estimated two feet and Lake Horton is

about one foot low.

He

added that only one resident reported a drop in

water pressure during the 12-hour ban, but that

was an indication that the system was being

strained.

"We

never lost water," Ray said. "We have

been able to meet the demands."

The

12-hour no-watering period may have helped some

since the amount of water pumped on Saturday was

approximately 3.2 gallons less than the previous

Saturday when the county was only operating on

the odd-even watering ban.

Ray

said he hoped the new combination of the 12-hour

ban and the odd-even restrictions will help

reduce the demand for water somewhat.

But

for local residents, the addition to the outdoor

watering ban further shrinks the time they can

water their yards and wash their cards the once

every two days.

Local

residents can take several steps at home to help

reduce water consumption, according to these

recommendations from the EPD:

� Find and repair leaks.

Approximately 50 percent of households are

estimated to have leaks of some type. A steady

faucet drip wastes 20 to 30 gallons per day,

while a leak as small as 1/16 of an inch can lose

100 gallons per day. Toilets can have small,

invisible leaks that could waste as much as 200

gallons a day, which is enough to wash four loads

of laundry. Some of those leaks can be easily

repaired with a new plunger ball or flush valve

(flapper).

� Reduce water pressure. High

water pressure can contribute to leaks and

equipment breakdowns. A reduction of 30 to 40

pounds per square inch of pressure in a typical

residence could also yield a 3 to 6 percent

savings in water use.

� Install ultra-low flow

plumbing devices and fixtures, such as a toilet

dam, shower head restrictor and faucet aerator.

Those items, which can cut water use an average

of 22 percent up to 50 percent with no lifestyle

changes, can be purchased for approximately $25

per set. Ultra-low flow shower heads can cost up

to $15, but they save as much as $150 per year on

water and water-heating bills. Volume

displacement devices such as a water-filled

plastic bag or a plastic bottle weighted with

stones can save up to a gallon per flush.

� Use water-efficient

appliances. New water-conserving dishwashers use

about 30 percent less water while water-efficient

clothes washers can save 16 gallons per full

load. It is also recommended to fully load the

appliances or use water-level controls when

washing smaller loads.

� Conserving energy can also

help save water, since large amounts of water are

needed to makes most forms of energy. The best

way to use less hot water, therefore saving water

in the long run, include taking shorter showers

and repairing hot water leaks.

The

EPD is also promoting a special landscape design

process called Xeriscape, which calls for plants

and trees to be grouped together according to how

much water they need to survive. That allows for

the homeowner to use smaller amounts of water for

some areas of the lawn, which also conserves

water in the long run.

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