Our water supply in Gwinnett County comes from Lake Lanier, which is in the Chattahoochee River basin. The headwaters of the Chattahoochee River above Atlanta comprise the smallest watershed that provides a water source for a metro area in the country. The maximum amount of water that Gwinnett County can draw from Lake Lanier per day is 150 million gallons. On the average, our county draws 110 million gallons per day during summer months.

Did you know: On average, each American uses enough water to fill 27 swimming pools per year!

Common uses for water and # gallons used per person, per day:

Lawn watering and pools: 25
Toilet flushing: 24
Bathing: 20
Laundry: 8.5
Dishwasher: 4
Car washing: 2.5
Drinking and cooking: 2
Garbage disposal: 1

Bathrooms: 

• Check toilets for leaks and worn out, corroded, or bent parts.
• Purchase low flow toilets, faucets and showerheads to reduce water use by 20%.
• Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily.
• Take shorter showers.
• Don’t let water run while shaving, washing your face, or brushing your teeth.

Kitchens:

• Minimize use of kitchen sink disposals; start a compost pile instead.
• Don’t use running water to thaw frozen foods, defrost overnight or in microwave.
• Use dishwater for watering plants or your garden.
• Fully load your dishwashing machine.
•  Buy Energy Star appliances with water and energy saving options.

Appliances:

• Adjust washing machine water levels according to load size.
• Buy front-loading washing machines to use less water.
• Never install an inefficient water-to-air heat pump or air-conditioning system.
• Install water-softening systems only when necessary and turn off while on vacation.

*Please note: The current Gwinnett County watering restrictions allow hand watering of plants between midnight and 10:00 a.m. on the even-odd schedule allowed by the state.

Odd numbered addresses may water on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays only (ex: 501 Jones Lane)

Even numbered addresses may water on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays only (ex: 3998 Smith Road)

Lawns

• Don’t over-water or over-fertilize your lawn.
• Water lawns during early morning hours to reduce evaporation.
• Don’t let sprinklers water your street, driveway or sidewalk.
• Install water-efficient sprinklers and use soaker hoses.
• Regularly check sprinkler systems to be sure they are operating properly.
• Shut off automatic sprinkler systems when storms are approaching.
• Do not leave sprinklers or hoses unattended.
• Raise the mower blade to at least three inches; longer lawns hold moisture better.

Landscaping

• Mulch to retain moisture in the soil and control weeds.
• Plant native and/or drought-tolerant grasses, ground covers, shrubs and trees.
• Minimize the grass areas in your yard because less grass means less water.
• Do not hose down your driveway or sidewalk; use a broom.
• Check all hoses, connectors and spigots regularly. Replace or add washers if leaking.
• Avoid ornamental water features unless the water is recycled.
• Avoid recreational water toys that require a constant stream of water.

At Work and Around Town

• Encourage water conservation at the workplace, in employe manuals and training.
• Promote water conservation in community newsletters and on bulletin boards.
• Patronize businesses that practice and promote water conservation.
• Report broken pipes and open hydrants to the property owner or local authorities.