LOWNDES, Ga. (WALB) — The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) has extended a statewide Drought Response Level 1 declaration, prompting Lowndes County Utilities to issue a public notice for its customers and residents in unincorporated areas of the county.

The statewide declaration, originally issued on April 27, 2026, was extended on Aug. 14, 2026, due to ongoing dry conditions and mounting concerns over water resources across Georgia. EPD officials decided after months of tracking drought indicators and coordinating with local public water systems to assess current water supply levels.

What This Means for Lowndes County Residents

The declaration applies directly to:

• Customers served by Lowndes County Utilities.
• Residents living in unincorporated areas of Lowndes County.

Lowndes County Manager Paige Dukes emphasized that while the notice serves as an alert, no new restrictions are being put into place.

“Our priority is to ensure that residents in Lowndes County, especially those in unincorporated areas served by Lowndes County Utilities, stay informed and prepared,” Dukes said. “While there are no additional restrictions at this time, we encourage everyone to be mindful of their water use and take simple steps to conserve as we continue to monitor dry conditions.”

Current Water Restrictions and Guidelines

At this time, outdoor water use remains permitted under existing Level 1 guidelines:

• Outdoor Watering Hours: Residents are allowed to water outdoors environmental protection divisibetween the hours of 4 p.m. and 10 a.m.
• Local Restrictions: Under state law, local water systems must follow state requirements and cannot enforce additional water restrictions without explicit approval from the EPD.

How Drought Levels are Determined

The Georgia EPD monitors a variety of environmental factors to determine drought response levels, including:

• Rainfall amounts
• Stream and river levels
• Groundwater conditions
• Reservoir levels
• Soil moisture
• Short- and long-term weather forecasts

Local officials encourage residents to practice water conservation where possible as dry conditions persist. Updates and additional resources will be shared as conditions evolve.

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