Athens-Clarke County has met the state-mandated 10% reduction in water consumption as compared to last year’s winter average. Athens-Clarke County is one of the first communities in Georgia to accomplish this before the December 1 deadline.

According to figures from the Public Utilities Department, the current average daily consumption for the month of November is 13.43 million gallons per day (MGD). This rate is below the statewide requirement of 13.5 MGD. November ACC water consumption figures show significant conservation when compared to the mid-October rate of 14.47 MGD.

“We have accomplished the mandated reduction in Athens-Clarke County without having to resort to additional water use restrictions,” said Mayor Heidi Davison.  “This is a major milestone, but it is not the end of conservation in Athens-Clarke County. Conservation is still critical and we ask our citizens, businesses, and industrial users to continue to reduce water consumption with the same intensity they have so far this fall.”

The reduction rate confirms Athens-Clarke County Manager Alan Reddish’s comments to the Mayor and Commission at the November 15 Agenda Setting meeting that conservation efforts by our water customers are making the implementation of Step F of the Drought Management Plan less likely.

“With the response we have seen to reducing water use, our goal now is to refill our reservoir and begin 2008 with a safe level of water supply for next summer and fall,” Manager Reddish said. “Since April, Athens-Clarke County has seen a total reduction in water use of 35% from the 20 MGD base demand.”

Citizens and visitors are encouraged to continue their water conservation efforts as Athens-Clarke County remains under a severe drought.  The National Weather Service reports that Athens-Clarke has received 60% less rainfall than it did last year at this same time.