Atlanta will continue outdoor watering ban

Atlanta will continue its ban on outdoor watering despite the fact Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue approved loosening statewide restrictions. State officials OK’d one 25-minute hand watering session per day.

“We are still in a Level 4 drought,” said Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin. “And we still are under an obligation to cut our use 10%. We can’t allow outdoor watering and meet that goal.”

A 30-day exemption for new landscaping is still in effect, but Atlanta will no longer exempt watering for lawn overseeding and aeration. Franklin did announce that pools will be exempted from the restrictions effective immediately.

-- Sarah