Athens-Clarke County officials are asking residents to pray for rain and soon will tell them to reduce their usage or face stiff penalties.

The mayor and commission met Thursday to discuss Step F – the last element of the drought management plan.

The proposed Step F recommendation calls for a 30 percent or higher reduction in water usage, would allow for water use in health and safety, industrial, commercial and residential purposes and would be implemented gradually, said Gary Duck, director of ACC Public Utilities, Thursday.

Step F originally was slated for Nov. 21 but later moved to Dec. 14. The commission moved the date to 30 days before water reaches the 25 percent conservation pool level because that is when quality decreases and requires more treatments to make water drinkable. Online, phone and written notifications are being prepared to inform customers by the ACC Commission.

Periodic meter readings will be conducted to enforce the policy. Violators face penalties ranging from a warning for the first offense, fines on the second and service disruption on the third offense.

“As long as people do their part in conservation efforts, we may not hit the conservation pool, but only time will tell,” said Stephen Dorsch, water conservation coordinator for the ACC.

However, this timeline could be disrupted after an Oct. 23 announcement by Gov. Sonny Perdue.

Effective Nov. 1, Perdue directed the Georgia Environment Protection Division to modify water surface and groundwater withdrawal to achieve a 10 percent reduction.

“A 10 percent reduction in water use is a first step, and we will continue to evaluate our drought response and encourage additional conservation as needed,” Perdue said in a press release.

ACC manager Alan Reddish called Perdue’s announcement “frustrating” and “disappointing,” given that the county, as of Oct. 22, is at a 28 percent reduction rate.

“The governor’s announcement brings Step F closer than it was before, and we are a little frustrated by that. We have been asking residents to be proactive since April and not many communities have done that,” Reddish said. “To be honest, the impact and duration of Step F could be shorter if citizens continue to cooperate.”

State climatologist and University associate professor David Stooksbury said several factors are crucial to alleviate the drought, including soil moisture and the weather pattern La Niña.

“Rains in the last week probably saved millions of dollars in foundation planting, but until there is a gain in deep soil moisture there won’t be much change,” Stooksbury said.

On Aug. 23, Stooksbury declared 51 counties in an exceptional drought – estimated every 100 years.

The 2007 Athens rainfall deficit is approximately 16 inches, or 40 percent below average. A National Weather Service forecaster said Athens’ rainfall is measured by automated equipment at Ben Epps Airport.

ACC draws water from three sources. Primary sources include the Middle and North Oconee Rivers and the Bear Creek Reservoir. Secondary sources include Lake Chapman and the Loop 10 Reservoir.

Once exhausted, the “disaster response” consists of bulk and bottled water distribution.

“No date has been given for disaster response resources, but we have been in contact with Georgia Emergency Management Agency, private water providers and the district health office,” Reddish said.

If La Niña is weak, Stooksbury predicts higher average precipitation in Athens. If moderate or strong, there will be less precipitation. La Niña is forecast to be moderate.

“We could muddle through the winter and spring but would have no reserve for summer 2008, and this time next year we could still be talking about the drought,” Stooksbury said.

Dorsch said he encourages conservation efforts as the situation remains uncertain.

“The next best step is to just pray for rain,” Reddish said.