The record-setting drought prompted an unusual deal this week between Six Flags Over Georgia and Cobb County.

In exchange for installing low-flow toilets, urinals and faucets, the park will be allowed to operate its water rides when it opens March 1.

Hela Sheth, the Six Flags spokeswoman, said more than half the park's water is used in the restrooms. Replacing 125 toilets installed before 1992 and updating other plumbing will save about 18 percent of all water used.

The upgrades "will mean water conservation for years to come, even when the drought is over," Sheth said. "Closing the rides would only address short-term conservation."

Closing the water rides, including Skull Island, Splashwater Falls, Thunder River and Log Jamboree, would shave only about 13 percent off the water used at the park, she said.

A waterless visit this spring and summer to Six Flags had been a real possibility as county officials try to meet the state mandate to reduce water use by 10 percent. They discussed shutting the rides at a meeting last month with Six Flags representatives. The park is not in Cobb's top 150 water users year-round.

"I think Six Flags is making the kind of strides we would hope that all water users would make, that is to evaluate where they can take measures to accomplish the water savings," said Glenn Page, general manager of the Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority.

Six Flags also plans to use well water to fill at least two of the rides and water the landscaping from spring-fed lakes and stormwater runoff. The company also plans to update the plumbing at White Water, its water park in Marietta.