As recent rains revitalize much of Georgia, it’s difficult to accept that the state is still experiencing a drought.

Only a small section of Northeast Georgia is considered to be in an extreme drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, but conditions could spread in coming months.

“It is not unusual for drought conditions to get somewhat better over the winter because temperatures are low and most plants are dormant,” said Pam Knox, Georgia’s assistant state climatologist, in an e-mail interview Monday. “We will need to wait until around the end of March, the end of the winter recharge period, to see what our drought situation is going into the next growing season.”

Knox said although the rain provided relief, data supports that 2008′s precipitation average was still 11.51 inches below Georgia’s average for the past 30 years.

Under the tightening drought conditions, the University conserved 150 million gallons of water – more than 200 Olympic-sized swimming pools – from November 2007 to October 2008.

The motto “Every Drop Counts” may not seem as urgent as it did a year ago, yet members of the University’s Physical Plant and researchers are working to further conserve water without compromising academic or sanitary standards.

Ken Crowe, director for utilities at the University Physical Plant division, said he was impressed with the University’s progress during the drought, but said it will take a long time to replenish lakes and rivers that were depleted during the past two years.

“We encourage the University to keep it up,” Crowe said in response to the University exceeding Gov. Sonny Perdue’s executive order to cut 10 percent of water consumption. The University decreased water consumption by an astonishing 25 percent, Crowe said in a telephone interview Monday.

Crowe said the Physical Plant will work on sustainable methods to bring the University’s dormant outdoor fountains back to life as early as this summer or fall by developing air conditioning units and dehumidifiers that collect condensed water as well as rain water from outdoors.

This would not only restore the aesthetic touch of North Campus, but create solutions applicable to other landscape projects.Many of the University’s labs already have accepted makeovers.

The Miller Plant Science building received a new recirculation system that reuses water to cool laboratory equipment instead of disposing water after one-time use.

Such actions have saved the University an estimated $1 million a month, Crowe said.

Energy conservation is also important in reducing water usage, said Todd Rasmussen, professor of hydrology and water resources. Rasmussen said coal and nuclear power plants use large amounts of water for cooling purposes.

Despite the normal conditions of local water reservoirs, Gary Duck, director of Athens-Clarke County public utilities administration, said Georgia must continue to follow the Georgia Environmental Protection Division’s Level 4 restrictions, which noticeably limit the methods and frequency of outdoor water use.

These requirements may not be of particular interest to residents in the winter, but the regulations will gain relevance quickly with the arrival of spring and summer, Duck said.