Basic Information

Our area (and most of North Georgia) started experiencing drought conditions in early spring 2007. These conditions worsened and developed into an exceptional drought (the highest level of drought) by early summer. We are now in the fall with winter fast approaching and conditions have not improved. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration they will not be improving anytime soon.

Because of this, the City of Villa Rica must take steps to ensure our water supply is maintained despite the lack of water. In addition, Governor Sonny Perdue has mandated that all North Georgia water providers must reduce water consumption by at least ten percent (10%). To that end, we have developed this web site to serve as a clearing house of information to help the public through these difficult times.

This is a picture of Villa Rica's main water reservoir taken in early November 2007. At the time the picture was taken, the lake was down approximately 33 inches which is about one-third of its capacity. If you click on the picture, you can see a larger version which makes the house in the background more clear and provides a better perspective. No matter how much we conserve, the reservoir will continue to drop but the more we conserve the longer our water supply will last, hopefully long enough for the rains to return.

Drought Related Documentation

The following documents outline the requirements of the State of Georgia and the measures being taken by the City of Villa Rica in an effort to protect the public water drinking supply:

bulletState of Georgia Drought Level Four Requirements -- These requirements are mandatory. They went into effect September 12, 2007.
 
bulletFrequently Asked Questions on the level four drought restrictions.
 
bulletVilla Rica's Drought Response Plan Phase 1 -- These requirements are mandatory. A summary of the City of Villa Rica's Phase I Water Reduction Measures in response to drought conditions and Governor Perdue’s Executive Order which was adopted by the City Council on November 6, 2007. The letters below contain additional information regarding the drought response plan.
 
bulletA Letter to Major Water Users -- All major water users in Villa Rica are required to submit a water conservation plan by November 15, 2007.
 
bulletA Letter to Public Institutions -- All public institutions (schools, hospitals, etc) are required to start using paper and plastic by November 15, 2007. They are also encouraged to place hand sanitizer in all bathrooms to provide an alternative to washing hands with water. Private institutions, such as churches and day care centers, are also encouraged to follow these guidelines.
 
bulletA Letter to Privately Owned Food Service Establishments -- All restaurants and other privately owned food service establishments are being asked to take the following three steps: (1) Serve water only upon request; (2) offer your customers the option of using paper and plastic; and (3) place hand sanitizer in all bathrooms to provide an alternative to washing hands with water. Further efforts to conserve water are encouraged.
 
bulletVilla Rica's Water Ban Survival Guide -- Keeping your yard looking good is hard to do when you can't just turn on the hose anytime you want. This printable brochure was developed to give you some basic ideas to help your yard survive the drought. For more landscaping information, visit our Resources page.

Other Efforts by the City of Villa Rica

On October 26, 2007, the City of Villa Rica issued a memorandum to all departments requiring them to review water use with an eye towards conserving water. Those reviews have resulted in several ideas which have paid off in substantial water savings. Several of these efforts are outlined on our Success Stories page.

On November 1, 2007, the City of Villa Rica held a meeting with our "Top 25" water users. Because of the large volume of water these companies use on a regular basis, all reductions will make a large impact in our efforts to conserve water. A PowerPoint presentation was given followed by general discussion. Ideas were welcomed and encouraged from all present. Overall, we consider the meeting a great success and applaud the efforts of our business community to save water. Some of the many noteworthy efforts made by our businesses and industries can be found on our Success Stories page.