Blairsville adopts outdoor water ban
'Very serious' situation prompts city's measures
By JARED PUTNAM Union Sentinel Editor

The City of Blairsville has announced a total outdoor water ban, effective immediately, until further notice.

This decision comes as the unusually dry summer of 2007 continues to scorch Georgia into late August, leaving the water supply at a critically low level.

"The residents need to understand that we really need to stick to this ban completely," Blairsville Mayor Jim Conley told the Union Sentinel. "Everybody [needs to] take responsibility for themselves to follow through. Our water situation is very serious. There are wells starting to go dry."

The primary problem stems from the low water level on the Nottely River.

"That's where our main water supply is," Mayor Conley said. "Because of the stream level on the Nottely River, our water source is not what it needs to be."

When the ban can be lifted is dependent on receiving adequate rainfall, something that does not appear to be on the horizon.

In the meantime, violators of the water ban can be reported to the city at 706-745-2000.