Thanks to new water restrictions taking affect Aug. 1, Fayetteville water

customers won't be able to wash their cars or water their lawns on Fridays.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources is behind the outdoor watering

restriction on all water utilities in Georgia. Persons with odd-numbered

addresses can water Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays; those with even-numbered

or unnumbered addresses can water Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

There will be no hourly limits on outdoor watering under the new restrictions,

however.

Exemptions to the new statewide regulations taking affect August 1 include

irrigation of personal food gardens, newly installed landscapes (for up to

30 days), use of reclaimed wastewater and irrigation of golf courses under

certain standards.

The state also allows a number of commercial exemptions to the ban, including

car washes, food and fiber producers, sod producers, fruit and vegetable

growers, hydro-seeding, power washing, irrigation contractors (during installation

and as needed for maintenance and adjustments), construction sites and professionally

certified or licensed landscapers, golf course contractors and sports turf

landscapers (during installation and 30 days following installation only).

To help make water use more effective, the DNR offers the following tips:

- Water early in the morning or late in the evening (before 8 a.m. or after

10 p.m. to reduce evaporation and discourage disease).

- Water deeply once or twice a week; Water should penetrate the soil 5-7

inches minimum.

- Don't fertilize during drought conditions.

- Raise your mower blade.

- Mulch with pine straw, bark or compost 3-4 inches deep to conserve moisture.

Avoid decorative rock - it will have the opposite effect.