ATHENS, Ga. (AP)- An official says if the drought continues,
Athens-Clarke County will need to begin rationing water by
Thanksgiving and the Bear Creek Reservoir will run out of water by
Christmas.

County Manager Alan Reddish told Athens-Clarke County
commissioners Tuesday night a total outdoor watering ban and
voluntary conservation measures have cut water consumption in
Athens by almost 20 percent -- to 16.3 million gallons per day.

Reddish says the reduced usage and an emergency permit to
withdraw more water from Middle Oconee River will provide Barrow,
Clarke, Jackson and Oconee counties with drinking water until
December 21st under current conditions.

But he recommended that the Athens-Clarke County Commission
approve so-called ``Step F'' water restrictions on November 21st if
the drought does not improve.

Step F involves prioritizing uses of water, such as for drinking
and fire protection, in an emergency drought management plan, but
county officials still are working on a list of priorities.

Athens-Clarke County officials are working on a draft of the
restrictions to give to commissioners October 25th.

Meanwhile, University of Georgia President Michael Adams
announced Tuesday that the school is forming a task force to come
up with more ways to conserve water -- both during the drought and
long term.

The Upper Oconee Basin Water Authority, which runs Bear Creek
Reservoir, declared a Level 4 drought September 14th, banning
almost all outdoor water use in Barrow, Clarke, Jackson and Oconee
counties. Athens-Clarke County declared similar restrictions the
next day. The bans went into effect September 18th.