Georgia has declared a Level 1 drought response. What does that mean?

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) has issued a directive for a statewide response to ongoing drought conditions.

A Level 1 drought response has been declared for Georgia.

This means the Georgia EPD has directed that all public water systems “must implement a public information campaign including, at a minimum, notice regarding drought conditions and drought-specific announcements in one or more of the following ways: newspaper or online ads, bill inserts, social media, and notices in public libraries,” the division said in a press release.

The Georgia EPD said the campaign is meant to help residents “better understand drought, its impact on water supplies, and the need for water conservation.”

There are three levels to the state’s drought response, with the first being the least severe.

The second level starts to limit water use and the third further expands limitations.

Georgia has seen drought conditions since early April.

FIRST ALERT FORECAST: Multiple rounds of rain, storms will impact north Georgia this week

Multiple rounds of rain are forecast in the coming days. However, the First Alert Weather Team forecasts that it will not be enough to make a dent in the state’s ongoing drought.