By Mark Millican

markmillican@daltoncitizen.com

CHATSWORTH — Although 2008 rainfall is still several inches below average, a wetter summer this year means city and county residents are now able to water outdoors more frequently.

On Tuesday the state Department of Natural Resources allowed Chatsworth and Murray County to drop from Level 4 water restrictions — the highest level — to Level 4B.

“If people pay close attention to the new guidelines, they’ll see that they still can’t just lay a garden hose down and let it run,” said Water Works director Tom Martin.

Under Level 4B:

• All outdoor water uses, except for hydrants, are allowed on an odd/even basis, two days per week between midnight and 10 a.m. Odd addresses may water on Thursdays and Sundays; even addresses may water on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

• Outdoor water uses are still prohibited for hydrants for any purpose other than firefighting, public health, safety or flushing, or washing hard surfaces such as streets, gutters, sidewalks and driveways, except when necessary for public health and safety.

Outdoor water uses that are still allowed include the filling of swimming pools without restrictions on day or time, on those two days a week as designated (odd or even).

The instructions for watering under Level 4B include the following conditions:

• Each household, business or other institution/property owner will be allowed to hand water existing landscape using one garden hose 25 minutes a day, from midnight to 10 a.m., on one designated day in addition to the two days of watering specified by the address number.

• Newly installed landscaping which has been in place less than 30 days may be watered up to three days a week from midnight to 10 a.m. only for 10 consecutive weeks and during plant installation.

Dalton Utilities received state permission to ease some of its outdoor water-use restrictions in July.