VALDOSTA — Lowndes County officials advise water conservation after Georgia issues Level 1 drought declaration.

Release:

Lowndes County, Georgia: On April 27, 2026, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) issued a statewide Drought Response Level 1 following continued dry conditions and increasing concerns about water resources across Georgia. After closely monitoring drought indicators for several months, EPD coordinated with public water systems, including Lowndes County Utilities, to assess current conditions and the status of the water supply before making this determination.

This declaration applies to customers served by Lowndes County Utilities and to those in the unincorporated areas of Lowndes County.

“Our priority is to ensure that residents in Lowndes County, especially those in unincorporated areas served by Lowndes County Utilities, stay informed and prepared,” said Paige Dukes, Lowndes County Manager. “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.”

At this time, outdoor water use is still permitted and remains unchanged under Level 1 guidelines. Residents may continue outdoor watering between the hours of 4:00 PM and 10:00 AM. Local water systems must follow state requirements and cannot impose additional restrictions unless approved by EPD.

EPD determines drought response levels based on a range of environmental factors, including rainfall, stream and river levels, groundwater conditions, reservoir levels, soil moisture, and weather forecasts. These conditions are tracked regularly to ensure an appropriate and timely response to changing conditions.

While there are currently no additional restrictions in place, residents in the unincorporated areas of Lowndes County are encouraged to use water wisely and remain mindful of conservation efforts as dry conditions persist. Ongoing updates and additional resources will continue to be shared as conditions evolve.

For more information on drought conditions and water conservation, residents can visit the Georgia Environmental Protection Division website: https://epd.georgia.gov/watershed-protection-branch/drought-management.  Additional water conservation information is available at https://epd.georgia.gov/watershed-protection-branch/water-conservation.