Recent News

(June 18, 2009) GA EPD announced new outdoor watering guidelines.
Read about the new guidelines and learn how to help conserve water

(April 29, 2009) GA EPD announced new outdoor watering guidelines. Hoschton and Jackson County are now at level 4B until further notice.
Get a copy of the new guidelines here.

Hoschton Cleanup Days

(April 27, 2009) It's that time of year again. Hoschton will have dumpsters set out on City Square for city residents to use to dispose of unwanted items. They will be available Wednesday April 29th through Friday May 1.

Hoschton Seeks Bids For Three Water & Sewer Projects

(April 2, 2009) Hoschton is requesting bids from licensed contractors for three projects for its water and sewer system. The new well needs a well house, and a connection to a water main. The wastewater treatment plant needs equipment modifications. The oxidation pond is to be abandoned.
Click here for more information on all three projects.

Water Conservation

The drought may be officially over, but the City strongly encourages all water users to conserve as much as possible. Following are some specific measures that can be taken to reduce water consumption now:

General

An average person in the United States uses 125-150 gallons of water per day for cooking, washing, flushing, and watering; this is more than 40 percent over what is needed to accomplish these tasks.
Never pour clean, unused water down the drain. There are other uses for it.
Repair dripping faucets by replacing washers. Every drop counts!
Check all plumbing for leaks. Have leaks repaired by a plumber.
Retrofit all household faucets by installing aerators with flow restrictors.
Install an instant hot water heater on your sink.
Install a water-softening system only when the minerals in the water would damage your pipes. Turn the softener off while on vacation.Insulate your water pipes to reduce heat loss and prevent them from breaking.

Kitchen

Operate automatic dishwashers only when they are fully loaded.
Hand wash dishes by filling two containers - one with soapy water and the other with rinse water containing a small amount of chlorine bleach.
Clean vegetables in a pan filled with water rather than running water from the tap.
Start a compost pile as an alternate method of disposing of food waste or simply dispose of food in the garbage. (Kitchen sink disposals require a lot of water to operate properly).
Store drinking water in the refrigerator. Do not let the tap run while you are waiting for water to cool.
Avoid wasting water waiting for it to get hot. Capture it for other uses such as plant watering or heat it on the stove or in a microwave.
Avoid rinsing dishes before placing them in the dishwasher; just remove large particles of food. (Most dishwashers can clean soiled dishes very well, so dishes do not have to be rinsed before washing)
Avoid using running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods. Defrost food overnight in the refrigerator or use the defrost setting on your microwave oven.

Laundry

Operate automatic clothes washers only when they are fully loaded or set the water level for the size of your load.

Bathroom

Consider purchasing a low-volume toilet that uses less than half the water of older models. Note: In many areas, low-volume units are required by law.
Install a toilet displacement device to cut down on the amount of water needed to flush. Place a one-gallon plastic jug of water into the tank to displace toilet flow (do not use a brick, it may dissolve and loose pieces may cause damage to the internal parts). Be sure installation does not interfere with the operating parts.
Replace your showerhead with an ultra-low-flow version.
Place a bucket in the shower to catch excess water for watering plants.
Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of tissues, insects, and other similar waste in the trash rather than the toilet.
Avoid taking baths - take short showers - turn on water only to get wet and lather and then again to rinse off.
Avoid letting the water run while brushing your teeth, washing your face, or shaving.

For more information, visit the following sites:
www.droughtjic.org/
www.conservewatergeorgia.net/.

See older news stories here