Q: What counties are covered by the ban?

A: The restrictions affect residents in North Georgia's 61 counties. In the metro area, those counties include: Bartow, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Paulding and Rockdale. A few local jurisdictions, such as the Cobb-Marietta Water Authority, already were at that level.

Q: What do the tougher restrictions mean for me?

A: The ban calls for no outdoor watering. That means you can't water your lawn or wash the car in your driveway.

Q: Why are we doing this?

A: The drought has reached historic proportions, the state said. In March, for instance, we had less than

1 1/2 inches of rain. The 30-year average is a little more than 5.

Q: Is there any relief in sight?

A: The region's reservoirs, such as Lake Lanier, normally recover as the winter rains arrive. But the forecast calls for a dry, mild winter, and that could spell more trouble.

Q: How will be it enforced? And what are the fines?

A: Local jurisdictions are free to put in place restrictions that are more stringent than the state's — and those jurisdictions enforce the ban. It's possible to be fined more than once. Those fines could reach $500.

Q: Are there any exemptions?

A: Licensed landscapers can water new, professionally installed landscaping for 30 days, and you can still water personal food gardens.

Q: What can I do to keep my trees, shrubs or plants alive?

A: Try using water captured from other sources, such as the drip from your air conditioning system.

Q: If I'm planning to overseed or plant a new lawn, what should I do?

A: You can rent a "slit seeder" from a home improvement store and use that to sow seeds. It cuts into the soil about a half inch, drops the seed in and covers it with dirt. With a little bit of luck and a little bit of rain, you will have most of those seeds germinate over two or three weeks.