An agreement between the Carroll County and Haralson County water authorities to sell water to each other in emergency situations may be put to use sooner than expected, officials said.

On May 25, Haralson County officials issued a complete outdoor watering ban for residents due to low water levels. Carroll County residents are still subjected to the state-mandated watering restrictions for the current Level 2 drought, which prohibits all outdoor watering between 10 a.m. and midnight.

At their last public meeting, the Carroll County Water Authority voted unanimously to enter into the water buying agreement. Purchases would not exceed 500,000 gallons, and would only be allowed in emergency situations - which Charlie Walker, director of the Haralson County Water Authority, said he is anticipating.

“If there’s any way (Carroll County) has additional water, we would welcome it,” Walker said. “Haralson’s only water source is the Tallapoosa River, which we’re monitoring closely, but we have no reservoirs like (Carroll County) does.”

Like Carroll County, the Haralson County Water Authority is planning to approve its end of the purchasing agreement at its next meeting. Walker said within the next few days, he and Matt Windom, executive director of the Carroll County Water Authority, will settle on a location for the water transfers.

“There’s talk about putting the connection between us (and Haralson) in the High Point area,” Windom said. “We haven’t discussed the nuts and bolts about how much water (Haralson) may need yet.”

Walker said the High Point site - also known as the Buncombe community - is an area bordered by both Haralson and Carroll counties and would be ideal for water exchanges.

“Both counties have a tank there,” Walker said. “And the area has a very low pressure because of the elevation of both systems.”

Walker said Haralson County can withdraw 3.75 million gallons per day from the Tallapoosa River under Environmental Protection Division rules, and it is currently withdrawing between 2.9 to 3 million gallons per day. He said public awareness of the situation and conservation has slightly increased local water levels - declining under the drought - but there is still cause for concern.

“Lately, we’ve been withdrawing so close to our maximum limit,” Walker said. “The flow in the river is down, telling us that the tributaries to the Tallapoosa River are also down.”

Windom said Carroll County is permitted by the EPD to withdraw 8 million gallons per day from the Snake Creek Reservoir. Currently, the county uses slightly more than 5 million gallons per day, leaving plenty of supply to aid Haralson County if needed. Carroll County also has a water agreement with Heard County.

“Now, our demand is not approaching our permitted limit,” Windom said. “Haralson is in a situation where it’s hard for them to get water to the High Point area.”

Walker is hoping that strict enforcement of Haralson County’s outdoor watering ban will better his county’s drought situation. Restrictions currently in place for Haralson County include bans on watering for plants and gardens, filling swimming pools, cleaning off sidewalks, and car washing (including fund-raisers). Fire hydrants must not be used for reasons other than firefighting, safety, public health or flushing, and washing buildings or surfaces like streets for reasons other than public health also is prohibited.

Under the state-mandated outdoor watering restrictions for Carroll County, residents are only allowed to water lawns between midnight and 10 a.m. Residents in odd-numbered houses may only water Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, while residents in even-numbered houses may

only water on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.