Drought Resources

Metropolitan Atlanta depends on Lake Lanier and Lake Allatoona for almost 75% of its water supply, either directly from the lakes or by releases to the rivers. 2007 was one of Georgia's driest years and the region experienced decreasing lake levels, extreme rainfall deficits and record low stream flows.

In the summer of 2008, Georgia entered a period of heavy rainfall.  Soil moisture and stream flows returned to near normal levels and small to medium-sized reservoirs were full.  On March 30, 2009, Georgia’s state climatologist David Stooksbury declared the drought in Georgia officially over.  Georgia EPD lifted mandatory water restrictions for metro Atlanta in June after four months of improved conditions.  By November 2009 the water level in Lake Lanier had reached 1072 feet.

The State of Georgia has returned to a non-drought schedule for outdoor water use.  Under a non-drought schedule, outdoor water use is allowed three days a week on assigned days using odd and even-numbered addresses.

Materials on this page will help citizens understand the requirements and ways to cope with drought.

• Total Outdoor Water Ban - A Survival Guide (PDF)
• Current Drought Map and Drought Monitoring Information
• Status of Lake Lanier and other lakes on the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River System
• Status of Lake Allatoona and other lakes on the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa River System

More information about the drought is available from the State of Georgia at http://www.georgiadrought.org/ and www.gaepd.org/Documents/outdoorwater.html.

Water Conservation Resources

The Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District has several publications that provide advice on conserving water both inside and outside the home:

For more water conservation tips, visit:

• Water Use It Wisely
• Conserve Water Georgia