Despite last

week's brush with Tropical Storm Hannah, the Coweta County Commission

voted Tuesday to tighten water restrictions starting this weekend.

While the storm

brought much needed relief rain, it still was not enough to put a dent

in the drought that has gripped the region for years.

The new restrictions

will limit outdoor watering to once a week during the weekend. Homes with

addresses ending in even numbers can water on Saturday between midnight

and 10 a.m., while homes with odd number addresses can water on Sunday

from midnight until 10 a.m.

The restrictions

are similar to the ones Newnan Utilities placed on its water customers

earlier. Since the county is Newnan Utilities' biggest customer, it decided

to follow suit and impose the restrictions.

If customers

decided to defy the restrictions, they could face hefty fines. While the

first offense only carries a penalty of a written warning, the second

offense requires a $200 reconnection fee. The third violation requires

a $750 tap fee, and any further violations would result in the customer's

water connection being turned off.