Georgians might be awash in a sea of drought regulations, but some say saving water can also be a way to slow the drain on one's pocketbook.

Catoosa County extension coordinator Charles Lancaster and his staff are administering water conservation programs ¡V one called "Water Smart" in conjunction with the Department of Natural Resources, and another focusing on indoor water use called "Every Drop Counts."

Especially with the recent rains, Lancaster said, Northwest Georgia faces a less diar drought situation than many other areas, but the entire state is nonetheless under a Level Four drought designation with many outdoor watering activities prohibited or severely curtailed.

"In the big picture, no matter how much rain we get, it's still going to be to our benefit to conserve what we have and not just be real wasteful," he said.

With additional sanctions from local utility districts, many customers are on an odd-even watering cycle in which residents water only on certain days depending on whether their street addresses are odd or even. Even fundraiser car washes have been banned under state regulations, and the governor only recently announced he was allowing people to fill their swimming pools, officials have said.

However, the extension office programs combine the serious task of conserving water with the fun-filled festivities Lancaster and program assistant Joi West take to the schools through 4-H. 4-H is a youth program that teaches youth ages 9 to 19 about agriculture, homemaking, community service and leadership skills.

"With all the rain, people don't realize we are still in a drought and need to start preparing for the upcoming summer months," West said.

She said office employees would soon be planting flowers at the extension office and will use a rain barrel to water the plants.

"Hopefully this will pick up interest in the county," she said. The rain barrel will be used at the extension/4-H
office. My husband and I will be making one for our house as well."

West said she also plans to take the program to other schools in the near future.

Lancaster said a rain barrel costs less than $40 to construct. By sawing a hole for a connection to the gutter system on a house or other building, and by placing a spicket near the bottom of the barrel, users can have up to 55 gallons of water readily available in a standard barrel. Rain barrels should be made from a food grade barrel with no petroleum contaminants, he said.

Just the amount of water coming off the gutter system of a 1,000-square-foot house is enough to water many plants. Lancaster said a 20-foot by 50-foot roof area in which one inch of rain fell would amount to 624 gallons of water if all of it was captured. The average rainfall for April is 1.36 inches and the average for May is 0.26 inches, he said.

The extension office also provides at no cost a course in water conservation. Georgia¡¦s regulations currently require homeowners who want to be allowed to water their newly planted, professionally installed landscapes to obtain a certificate to do so. The Outdoor Water Use Registration Program costs about $5 at urbanagcouncil.com and takes less than an hour or is free with an appointment at the extension office.

For more information about conservation contact the extension office at (706) 935-4211.

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Outdoor watering tips

* Water efficiently: Most plants need only one inch of water each week. Watering during the early morning hours is healthier for plants and prevents overwatering which can drown foliage. Watering deep once a week is generally better than watering only a little each day. Watering properly in each section of a landscape or garden is better than trying to water an entire area in a short amount of time.

* Put the right plants in the right place: Plants that are not native to the area can sometimes require more watering and care than native greenery.

* Mulch: This insulates the roots and helps retain moisture.

* Add organic matter: It helps retain moisture and creates a better living environment resulting in healthier plants.

* Collect air conditioner condensation and rain water: Rain barrels can capture much of the liquid.

Sources: Tips from conservewatergeorgia.net. Explanations from Charles Lancaster.



Indoor usage tips

Wash laundry and dishes

Always turn off running water

Take shorter showers

Eliminate any and all leaks

Reduce the flow of toilets and shower heads

Source: Conservewatergeorgia.net.

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