Georgia's Level 1 Drought Response: What Households Should Know
Georgia declared a statewide Level 1 drought response on April 27, 2026. Here is the official guidance, without overstating what Level 1 requires, plus practical steps you can take at home.
What Georgia declared
On April 27, 2026, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) declared a statewide Level 1 drought response for public water systems using surface water or groundwater. Level 1 requires water systems to inform customers about drought conditions and conservation.
Level 1 does not add new statewide outdoor-watering restrictions. Georgia EPD says outdoor water use remains allowed between 4 p.m. and 10 a.m. under the state schedule. A utility may have different requirements only with an EPD variance, so check your utility before watering.
Official source: Georgia EPD Level 1 declaration (published April 27, 2026; page reviewed July 10, 2026).
Why conserve now?
- Lowering discretionary use can help keep your household out of higher usage tiers where your utility uses tiered pricing.
- Finding leaks early can prevent avoidable water loss and surprise bills.
- Reducing demand helps protect shared water supplies while drought conditions persist.
Five practical first steps
- Check for leaks: Use the Leak Check tool and compare your meter before and after a no-use period.
- Shorten showers: Use the Shower Calculator to estimate savings from your own shower length and flow rate.
- Test toilets: Silent toilet leaks are easy to miss. Follow the Toilet Guide.
- Water deliberately: Avoid the hottest part of the day, follow the state schedule, and use the Outdoor Calculator to estimate demand.
- Review your bill: Use Analyze Water Bill to look for changes in usage, rates, and billing periods.
Start with the action you can verify today, then compare the next meter reading or bill.
Stay informed
Drought conditions and local guidance can change. Check the Georgia EPD drought management page and your own water utility for current notices.