Total water ban lifted in Athens-Clarke after heavy rains

ATHENS - Starting Wednesday, Athens-Clarke County residents can water outdoors on a weekends-only basis. <br> <br> For the past few weeks, the area has been under a total watering ban. The change in water restrictions comes after heavy rains in recent weeks brought up water levels in the county&#39;s main water sources - the North and Middle Oconee rivers and Bear Creek Reservoir. <br> <br> Athens-Clarke residents may now water outdoors on weekends on an odd-even schedule, with odd-numbered addresses allowed to water midnight to 10 a.m. Saturdays and even-numbered addresses to water midnight to 10 a.m. Sundays. <br> <br> Outdoor watering is still prohibited during weekdays. <br> <br> Oconee, Barrow and Jackson Counties also draw from the reservoir. Jackson is the only county that has not lifted the total watering ban. <br> <br> Athens-Clarke&#39;s Public Utilities Director Gary Duck told the Athens Banner-Herald that the area will continue to pull all of its water from the Middle Oconee and North Oconee rivers as long as water levels remain high. <br> <br> Water being pumped from the Middle Oconee River to refill Bear Creek Reservoir has brought the reservoir&#39;s level to about 80 percent capacity from a low of 61 percent on Sept. 13.