ATLANTA -- Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle is among state officials backing a plan that could ease water restrictions in Georgia.

The proposal would allow homeowners who take a short course online in water conservation to water their lawns and gardens at certain times. Landscape professionals who take a similar course also would be allowed to irrigate.

State officials discussed the proposal Thursday even as state climatologist David Stooksbury said harsher water restrictions may be needed next summer as the record drought continues.

The pool industry also is looking for relief from the state's outdoor watering ban, which has been in place since Sept. 28 for 61 north Georgia counties, including all of metro Atlanta. The ban prohibits outdoor water use, including watering lawns and flower gardens, filling swimming pools and washing cars.

More than 3 million people in the region get their drinking water from Lake Lanier and the Chattahoochee River just below the lake. Lanier hit a record low level in November and continued falling through most of December. Lanier has risen less than a foot since then, despite the recent rain and snow.