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. Use the leak check tool.
- 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.
- Review your bill: See water bill basics.