Metro Atlanta water restrictions could be tightened

ATLANTA - The state Environmental Protection Division director will decide this week whether he should toughen metro Atlanta&#39;s water restrictions. <br> <br> Harold Reheis could cut outdoor watering hours or limit outdoor water use to one weekend day. <br> <br> The area is entering its fifth consecutive year where water is rationed during the day because of drought conditions in Georgia. <br> <br> Water regulators have said that as the area continues to add about 100,000 new residents a year, restrictions will increase. The restrictions have lowered consumption about eight percent since being imposed four years ago. <br> <br> The drought in Georgia has forced officials to look for ways to conserve water, including statewide outdoor watering bans. <br> <br> An outdoor residential watering ban from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. affects Atlanta and the following counties: Bartow, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Paulding and Rockdale.