AN ORDINANCE
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING MANDATORY RESTRICTIONS AND ENFORCEMENT OF OUTDOOR
WATER USE FOR LANDSCAPING AS PER THE GEORGIA WATER STEWARDSHIP LAW PURSUANT TO
OCGA SECTION 12-5-7; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
______________________
THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA HEREBY ORDAINS:
Whereas, the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Columbus, Georgia,
depend upon the availability and affordability of water resources;
Whereas, reasonable restrictions of outdoor landscaping water use are
necessary to address this in furtherance;
Whereas, pursuant to O.C.G.A. Section 12-5-7, the General Assembly of
the State of Georgia has required all municipalities in Georgia to adopt an
ordinance to be effective no later than January 1, 2011 to allow outdoor
landscaping water use between the hours of 4:00 P.M. and 10:00 A.M.
SECTION 1.
Mandatory Restriction of Outdoor Water Use for landscaping.
Pursuant to O.C.G.A. Section 12-5-7, outdoor watering for the purposes of
planting, growing, managing, or maintaining ground cover, trees, shrubs, or
other plants may only occur between the hours of 4:00 P.M. and 10:00 A.M.;
provided that this limitation shall not create any limitation upon the
following outdoor water uses:
(A) Commercial agricultural operations as defined in O.C.G.A ? 1-3-3;
(B) Capture and reuse of cooling system condensate or storm water in
compliance with applicable local ordinances and state guidelines;
(C) Reuse of gray water in compliance with O.C.G.A ? 31-3-5.2 and applicable
local board of health regulations;
(D) Use of reclaimed waste water by a designated user from a system permitted
by the Environmental Protection Division of the Georgia Department of Natural
Resources to provide reclaimed waste water;
(E) Irrigation of personal food gardens;
(F) Irrigation of new and replanted plant, seed, or turf in landscapes, golf
courses, or sports turf fields during installation and for a period of 30
days immediately following the date of installation;
(G) Drip irrigation or irrigation using soaker hoses;
(H) Hand watering with a hose with automatic cutoff or handheld container;
(I) Use of water withdrawn from private water wells or surface water by an
owner or operator of property if such well or surface water is on said
property;
(J) Irrigation of horticultural crops held for sale, resale, or installation;
(K) Irrigation of athletic fields, golf courses, or public turf grass
recreational areas;
(L) Installation, maintenance, or calibration of irrigation systems;
(M) Hydroseeding.
SECTION 2. Enforcement
All persons shall comply with water use restrictions as imposed by the Georgia
Water Stewardship Law and any variances thereto. Any water use by any person
contrary to the provisions of the restrictions imposed by the Georgia Water
Stewardship Law and any variance thereto is a violation of this ordinance.
The Columbus Board of Water Commissioners shall be the enforcement authority
for this Ordinance. Violators of this Ordinance shall be subject to the
following schedule of administrative penalties, which said Board shall have the
right to change, modify or alter as it deems appropriate and necessary to
enforce this Ordinance, to the extent that violations occur within a 12 month
period:
(1) First violation. Written notice with a description left at the property
where the violation occurred.
(2) Second violation. $25.00 administrative penalty added to the water bill
of the customer?s property where the violation occurred.
(3) Third violation. $50.00 administrative penalty added to the water bill of
the customer?s property where the violation occurred.
(4) Fourth and subsequent violations. $100.00 administrative penalty added to
the water bill of the customer?s property where the violation occurred and
service termination, plus applicable reconnection of service charges.
SECTION 3. Conflict
All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with this ordinance are
hereby repealed.
______________________
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia held on the
7th day of December, 2010; introduced a second time at a regular meeting of
said Council held on the ______ day of ___________, 2010, and adopted at said
meeting by the affirmative vote of ______ members of Council.
Councilor Allen voting ___________________.
Councilor Anthony voting__________________.
Councilor Baker voting____________________.
Councilor Barnes voting___________________.
Councilor Davis voting____________________.
Councilor Henderson voting________________.
Councilor Hunter voting___________________.
Councilor McDaniel voting_________________.
Councilor Pugh voting_____________________.
Councilor Woodson voting__________________.
_____________________________ ______________________________
TINY B. WASHINGTON, CLERK JIM WETHERINGTON, MAYOR
Attachments
No attachments for this document.