Customers encouraged to weatherize their homes
With freezing temperatures potentially stressing water lines this winter, the Henry County Water Authority (HCWA) is encouraging customers to be prepared for the cold weather by winterizing their homes and businesses to prevent potential water leaks or pipe bursts.
Some simple water-saving weatherization tips for residents and property owners include:
* Insulate exposed pipes with wraps or tapes available at home improvement stores, especially those pipes passing through unheated spaces and the outdoors.
* Consider adding or supplementing insulation to water heaters.
* Drain irrigation systems, since the tips of sprinkler heads and portions of sprinkler systems often continue to hold water, even when inactive.
* Disconnect garden hoses from all outdoor water faucets (spigots), allowing water to drain completely, and store hoses in a place with consistent (warmer) temperatures.
* If an outside faucet is not frost free, find the shut-off valve on the pipe that feeds that faucet and turn it off; then, turn the outside faucet on and let it drain completely. Spigot covers also can help protect outdoor faucets from freezing temps.
* Winterize air conditioning units as well, insulating exposed pipes and hoses (after cutting the power to the outdoor condensing/compressor unit for safety); consider an AC unit cover, too.
* Remove window air conditioning units and insulate those areas accordingly.
* Clean gutters, so winter rains and melting snow can drain.
* If you wake up on a particularly icy morning and you do not have water inside your home, you may have a frozen pipe. Once the sun comes out, the line should thaw on its own; but, if you are leaving the property for the day, make sure that all faucets in the house are turned off to prevent possible water damage when the line thaws.
* When leaving your home or office for an extended period, turn the temperature down to 55 degrees, rather than turning the heat off completely.
* Should a pipe burst due to freezing or under any other circumstances, always know how to shut off the main water line servicing the home or property.
Winter fishing available at HCWA reservoirs on select dates
After customers have weatherized their properties, they can enjoy winter fishing on select weekends at two of the five HCWA reservoirs.
The Tussahaw Reservoir will open for a winter fishing weekend on Dec. 14-15, 2024, as well as Jan. 11-12, 2025, while both the Tussahaw and Upper Towaliga Reservoirs will be open on the weekend of Feb. 8-9, 2025.
To fish HCWA reservoirs, anglers must obtain a Reservoir Use Permit ($50 for one year or $85 for two years) at the Authority’s Headquarters, located at 1695 Highway 20 West in McDonough, during business hours – 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Citizens with disabilities, senior citizens, and military active duty or veterans can purchase a Reservoir Use Permit at a discount ($25 for one year or $45 for two years). Permits are valid for an entire calendar year from the date of purchase, and those with a permit can bring a guest for free.
The regular HCWA Fishing Season opens on March 1, when select reservoirs will be open every weekend and on a few days during the week, through the end of November 2025.
Winterization tips and other public education, as well as additional information on public fishing and boating at HCWA reservoirs, are available on the Authority’s website at www.hcwa.com.
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Media Contact:
Chris Wood, Ph.D.
P: 770-757-1681
E: chris@jwapr.com or john.wood@gcsu.edu