Gainesville, Hall Co. still under mandate to reduce water consumption

GAINESVILLE - Gainesville and Hall County will remain in a level 4 drought, even though some other communities may be able to reduce their water restrictions.

State environmental officials Tuesday called off a mandate order to reduce water restrictions by 10 percent for most water systems in 61 counties. Those are areas that don't draw water directly out of Lake Lanier. (See separate story).

"Because Lake lanier is so low, they said those people who depend on Lake Lanier, we can't go back any further than to Level 4," Gainesville Public Utilities Director Kelly Randall said.

Randall added, "Clearly, all the communities that encompass metro North Georgia are not included in that group of communities that might be able to reduce their restrictions."

The level of Lake Lanier continued to inch downward Wednesday morning, dropping another .002 foot to 1057.52. (See separate story).