The city of Alpharetta is matching Fulton County's proposed changes to its water regulations.

Under the proposed new rules, residents would be allowed to briefly handwater their yards every other day and fill their swimming pools.

The council voted 7-0 vote on Monday to follow the county's rules.

"All one would have to do is drive by Lake Lanier and see grounded boats and docks and recessed water lines to realize that we are still very much in a drought," Mayor Arthur Letchas said in a prepared statement.

"But my colleagues on council and I feel confident that our residents will continue their responsible conservation efforts even though we are amending our ordinance..."

Lake Lanier remains about 15 feet below full pool, according to the Corps of Engineers.

Assuming Fulton County enacts the changes later this month, the city's ordinance would become effective April 1.

Currently, the city only allows outdoor watering for new landscaping. Alpharetta also allows water usage by businesses that require water to survive, such as car washes with reclamation systems and professional pressure washers.

Under the new rules, residents would be able to hand water for 25 minutes per day with odd addresses watering on Saturdays, and even-numbered addresses watering on Sundays between midnight and 10 a.m. Hand watering is defined as one person with one garden hose with a spray nozzle that shuts off when released. The ordinance becomes effective April 1.

The ordinance also would allow watering newly installed landscape for 30 days after planting, but the property owner must register with the Outdoor Water Use Registration Program run by the Urban Agricultural Council, a landscapers' association.

But don't cheat. The police and fire departments will be enforcing the new water restrictions. Violations can be reported to the Alpharetta Communications Division at 678-297-6300.