Pike County is not out of the current drought picture, but at this point there is no need to worry, County Manager Steve Marro said.

“I really don’t think there’s an issue with water in Pike County,” he said.

During a time when Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue declared a state of emergency, with 85 counties considered disaster areas, Pike is in the fortunate position to be at Level 2 drought restrictions on water use, according to a release from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The same release listed Griffin-Spalding with Level 4 restrictions that prohibit outdoor water use with very few exceptions.

Pike residents may use water outdoors on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays between midnight and 10 a.m. if they have odd-numbered addresses. Residents with even-numbered addresses may use water outdoors Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at the same times. No use of water outdoors is allowed on Fridays.

“I have not heard a word from residents (complaining) about water restrictions,” Marro said.

Local water authorities have the power to add to the restrictions provided by the state. Tom Lacey of the Pike County Water Authority did not return phone calls, but Marro said that “if we had a water system, we could assert that authority ourselves.”

Pike County receives its water from the Still Branch Reservoir, but Marro said 32 miles of water lines along with a water tower behind Rebecca Drive are being set up to provide parts of the county with water. About 90 percent of the work is complete.

As of now, Marro said “the situation is not anywhere as bad as in North Georgia. We received a good deal of rain. I’m concerned about water in Pike, but for different reasons,” such as the general consumption of water.

Although it won’t fix the general drought problem, the next four days are likely to bring more rain to Pike County and its cities, according to The Weather Channel.