§ 40-305. Outdoor uses during drought and non-drought periods.

(a)

Persons may irrigate outdoors daily for purposes of planting, growing, managing, or maintaining ground cover, trees, shrubs, or other plants only between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m.

(b)

Subsection (a) of this section shall not create any limitation upon the following outdoor water uses:

(1)

Commercial agricultural operations as defined in O.C.G.A. § 1-3-3;

(2)

Capture and reuse of cooling system condensate or stormwater in compliance with applicable local ordinances and state guidelines;

(3)

Reuse of gray water in compliance with O.C.G.A. § 31-3-5.2 and applicable local board of health regulations adopted pursuant thereto;

(4)

Use of reclaimed wastewater by a designated user from a system permitted by the environmental protection division of the department to provide reclaimed wastewater;

(5)

Irrigation of personal food gardens;

(6)

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;

(7)

Drip irrigation or irrigation using soaker hoses;

(8)

Hand watering with a hose with automatic cutoff or handheld container;

(9)

Use of water withdrawn from private water wells or surface water by an owner or operator of property if such well or surface water is on said property;

(10)

Irrigation of horticultural crops held for sale, resale, or installation;

(11)

Irrigation of athletic fields, golf courses, or public turf grass recreational areas;

(12)

Installation, maintenance, or calibration of irrigation systems; or

(13)

Hydroseeding.

(c)

Any person guilty of a violation of this section shall be punished as provided in section 1-9.