No solution can be put into effect…
(via Fresh Loaf) Wilson R. Smith interviewed James “GriftDrift” Williams today about a wide variety of topics. When their discussion was on the water crisis, Williams had this to say:
The sad truth is that there probably is no solution that can be put into effect in time to solve the problem unless the rain returns and soon.
The problem with the water crisis is the worst is yet to come! The economic impact of water rationing could impact North and South Georgia. Water restrictions have already had an impact on those businesses whose economic viability depends on water and plenty of it. The question is how long can they hold on before they go under, file bankruptcy or otherwise significantly impact employment levels. The sad truth is that there probably is no solution that can be put into effect in time to solve the problem unless the rain returns and soon.
Well said.
November 7th, 2007 at 8:52 pm
NOT TRUE!
I’ve offered a perfectly reasonable solution in the forums - your choice of either a four lane highway stretched from Atlanta to the coast, carrying 118,200 trucks each way every day, or a train loop to the coast, with two trains, each 202 miles long and carrying 16,670 or so tanker cars.
Either solution would provide the daily water needs of Atlanta.
Or, you could just get a reeeeeally big straw…
November 7th, 2007 at 9:13 pm
Hey, we have a pizza place here in Norcross that trucks their water in from New York City to use in making their pizza dough and breads If they can do it….
November 7th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
I live in St. Louis, MO. When the city of Atlanta sucks Lanier dry, you can borrow some of ours. You’ll need a long pipe, but on the plus side the terrain is mostly downhill to you, and the Mississippi will never miss a meager billion gallons or so.
November 7th, 2007 at 11:03 pm
Why is Atlanta using just two lakes to get their water? 5 million people is it? Growth is the problem here. Lack of planning. I look forward to the mass migration out of town. Ohio needs your jobs.
November 7th, 2007 at 11:10 pm
Yep, that’s the problem.
As we pointed out at the link below, Lake Lanier only gets 5% of the water that falls in Georgia, but it’s counted on to supply 65% of it. WAY unbalanced.
http://www.atlantawatershortage.com/20071023/where-the-extra-water-from-lake-lanier-goes/
I’m confused though — if there is mass migration out of Atlanta and a bunch of people end up in Ohio, won’t that increase your unemployment rate?
November 7th, 2007 at 11:25 pm
I believe employers will vacate first, good example Coke can’t survive without water. The great lake region could certainly use those manufacturers and they have the largest reserves of fresh water. White collar jobs can easily move here. I live in Columbus, OH and we had a number of New Orleans residents move here. Of course I believe a lot of Atlanta’s recent population gain came of New Orleans. This problem will eventually effect the Southwest if growth isn’t somehow limited. I have have relatives that just moved to Atlanta to get away from the Florida hurricanes. Leave one problem for another.
Reading the political conflict sickens me when the city leaders should have known that the population boom wouldn’t effect the natural resources in the area. This is a wake up call that maybe too late.
November 7th, 2007 at 11:43 pm
I wish the best for everyone in the area and that a quick resolve comes your way. Good job on the blog.
November 8th, 2007 at 5:04 am
I also did some calculations on importing water.
The 18 wheeler gas trucks hold about 9,000 gallons.
A train rail car holds 17,000 gallons.
A super tanker rail car holds 30,000 gallons but those are in very limited supply.
At 500 million gallons per day, you would need:
around 17,000 super tanker rail cars per day OR
29,000 rail tanker cars per day OR
55,000 18 wheeler tanker trucks.
Most likely would be 29,000 rail tankers…you would have to unload one every 3 seconds.
Given the time it takes to move, park and drain rail tankers, things are looking very bleak.
November 8th, 2007 at 7:30 am
Born and raised in the briar patch!
November 8th, 2007 at 7:55 am
Actually, if we’re bidding for Atlanta’s manufacturing jobs, 7-Up and Budweiser are already here in St. Louis; we have the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers - we’re much better suited to their needs than Ohio.
Kind of a macabre conversation though, isn’t it? :/
November 17th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
It will be a lot easier to move the people than to truck in water every day. The government can establish a caretaker force to maintain Atlanta until the population can return (after sufficient reservoirs are built). Should take about 10 to 15 years.
November 24th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
I am very surprised that everybody takes the time to calculate truck loads or mass migration but nobody even mentions CONSERVATION. I believe Americans need to wake up and realize that the resources are not endless and that the continued increase of population requires new ways of thinking, especially if we want our kids and grandkids to be able to live in a healthy environment. If we continue to WASTE, everybody will suffer, as well as our economy and health. The Earth does not have endless resources and cannot be replaced.
If you want to take a first step, replace your toilets with Dual Flush models, saving precious drinking water - there is no need to flush down 1.6 Gallons or more with every bathroom visit.
Thank you. Andrea Paulinelli
November 26th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
Andrea is on track. There are many other available solutions. Rather than searching for more water. Use what you’ve got in a more efficent maner. How about grey water reuse, or replacing grass in sports fields at schools.
any way one wants to look at it there are too many straws in the glass esspecially when your spitting half of it out. The west coast has been dealing with drought for alot longer perhaps its time to take some notes.
P.S. Coke will most likely need move to one of its other bottlig locations, They do have a few others. That is unless they decide to constrain profits or increase prices, but thats a no brainer.