Columbia County, GA Water Use Rules: Recycled Water Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Recycled wastewater, landscapes
- Exempt from watering schedule, Sec. 86-89(a)(2)
- Recycled wastewater, golf courses
- Exempt from watering schedule, Sec. 86-89(c)(2)
- Non-drought reclaimed use
- Exempt from 4 p.m.-10 a.m. limit, Sec. 86-87(a)(4)
- Drought level 3 limit
- Reclaimed water barred for general watering
- Enforcement
- County water utility services division
- Penalty for misuse
- Meter disconnection until fees paid
Summary
Columbia County exempts recycled treated wastewater from its outdoor watering-schedule limits for both landscapes and golf courses, and lets EPD-permitted reclaimed wastewater users irrigate outside the standard 4 p.m. to 10 a.m. window, even during a declared drought.
(a)The following established landscape water uses are exempt from the outdoor water use schedules of this article.(1)Established landscapes using small capacity wells not requiring a water withdrawal permit for groundwater use from the Environmental Protection Division of the State of Georgia.(2)Use of recycled treated wastewater.(3)Irrigation of personal food gardens. ... (c)The following golf course outdoor water uses are exempt from the outdoor water use schedules established by this article.(1)Golf courses using small capacity wells not requiring a water withdrawal permit for groundwater use from the Environmental Protection Division of the State of Georgia.(2)Use of recycled treated wastewater.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 54).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 86-89 exempts "[u]se of recycled treated wastewater" from the county's outdoor water use schedules twice over: once for established landscapes in subsection (a)(2), alongside small-capacity wells and personal food gardens, and again for golf courses in subsection (c)(2). That exemption applies on top of Sec. m. During a declared drought response level 3, the reuse privilege narrows: Sec. 07(4)(b) limitations. Gray water reuse is handled separately under state law and local board of health rules rather than this article. The county's water utility services division enforces the article, and any violation, including misuse of a recycled-water exemption, can lead to disconnection of the customer's water meter under Sec. 86-93 until a disconnection and reconnection fee set in the county's fee schedule is paid.
Violations & Fines
A customer who misuses an outdoor water exemption, including the recycled-water exemptions in Sec. 86-89, or who otherwise violates the water use schedule article, is subject to enforcement by the county water utility services division under Sec. 86-93: the division may physically disconnect the water meter, and service stays off until the customer pays the disconnection and reconnection fees set in the county's schedule of fees and charges. Sec. 86-87(b)(3) separately allows enforcement of unlawful outdoor water use by citation or accusation in magistrate court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is recycled or reclaimed wastewater exempt from Columbia County's outdoor watering restrictions?
Does the recycled water exemption still apply during a drought in Columbia County?
Who enforces recycled water rules and what happens if I misuse the exemption?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Columbia County
Compare Columbia County to another location·View the Georgia water use rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.