Level 1 Drought Response for Public Water Systems: Effective in Covington/Newton County

The current drought condition in Newton County is a D3, Extreme Drought. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) has declared a state-wide Level 1 Drought Response.

April 28, 2026

During a Level 1 Drought Response, conservation of water and best practices are paramount to saving resources. Good opportunities for conserving water include:

  • Regularly check for and repair leaks inside and outside your home.
  • Don’t leave the tap running. When shaving, brushing your teeth, or washing your face or food, turn off the tap.
  • Only water your landscape when necessary and adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk or street.
 
During the Level 1 Drought Response, general landscape watering may be done
between 4 PM and 10 AM each day. The following activities may be done at any time of day:
  • Irrigation of personal food gardens may be done at any time of day
  • Irrigation of new and replanted plant, seed, or turf may be done at any time of day for 30 days after installation
  • Drip irrigation or irrigation using soaker hoses may be done at any time of day
  • Handwatering with a hose with automatic cutoff or handheld container may be done at any time of day

 

More water conservation information from the Georgia EPD is available here. 
 
If you'd like more information about Drought Management levels, select here for a fact sheet from the Georgia EPD.

Return to list.