Tighter water restrictions to come back next month?
According to an article on 11Alive, we might be looking at tighter water restrictions next month. Rain has been quite sparce this month, and Lake Lanier has dropped nearly a foot.
The state EPD director, Carol Couch, will make a decision next month.
What do you think she should do? Why?
Tags: carol couch, epd, lake lanier, Restrictions
June 27th, 2008 at 9:29 am
In my opinion, it can’t hurt. While you won’t run out of water in the short term, it’s smart to get the idea of conservation embedded firmly in peoples’ minds.
Some data:
Depth Loss in June so far: 1.23 feet
Volume Loss: 40,000 acre-feet
Feet to low-depth from last year: 5.64 feet
At current rate, when will we hit low-depth from last year: 10-28-08
At more likely 0.08 average loss: 9-5-2008
Basically at this rate, barring a major storm or a policy change by the USACE, Lanier will be in worse shape this year than last. Even if this drought ends, it’s a good idea to get into the habit of thinking in terms of conservation.
June 27th, 2008 at 10:55 am
Sound, thoughtful post, R. Kolter.
It wouldn’t hurt in the least to have a little less irrational exuberance in the construction and development sector, and a little more rational thinking in the planning sector.
June 28th, 2008 at 3:36 am
The housing market crunch is probably hitting at a “good” time insofar as the Atlanta water situation is concerned. People won’t build more if houses aren’t selling, right? Or is that too much to hope for?
That real-time comment “how it’s gonna look”-O-meter is really cool, BTW. Has that always been there, or did I just notice it?
July 7th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
With Lake Lanier at it’s lowest level ever for July 4th, why the h*ll did Atlanta even relax their water restrictions? This is why no one can sympathize with people in Atlanta run out of water. Birmingham didn’t fully relax their water restrictions until their lake supplies were nearing 90% full during this winter. Last year Atlanta didn’t start their restrictions early enough, and they were stupid again to relax the restrictions this year. Atlanta should be on strict water restrictions until Lake Lanier is close to being full again.
July 8th, 2008 at 10:32 am
Note to Water Conserver: the state relaxed outdoor watering restrictions, not the City of Atlanta. In its wisdom, and in pandering to the big money urban agriculture industry, the GA General Assembly passed HB 1281 during the 2008 session prohibiting a local government from enacting stricter outdoor water restrictions without state permission. Atlanta asked permission to get tougher; the state denied this request. As for stupid, stupid, why is it that the South Georgia Agriculture community is always first to bitch about “Atlanta” (however that’s defined) taking their water, but was also one of the strongest supporters of HB 1281 which is a serious blow to metro conservation efforts.
July 9th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Municipal water suppliers count on the revenue from the increased usage due to outdoor watering.
BGAAAAAAWWWKKKKKKKKK
July 10th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Let me first say, thanks for this Web site. It’s very interesting and infomative.
Second, Chicken Little, would you stop trying to address your loneliness at this board. It’s really sad to read your posts. You must be very, very lonely to be here and keep doing this.
Third, in response to your question about what we think should be done to address the water issue here in GA, I would be interested in some threads on conservation efforts that could be legislated.
No, we don’t need laws requiring people to put buckets next to their bathtubs, but since water is a public utility, I think the legislator can more closely regulate its use, sale, purchase, etc.
For example, have ANY laws been passed requiring builders/developers to use specific water-saving technologies in new construction from here on out? Can the state mandate that municipalities charge higher water rates (at least after a certain, reasonable per-person amount is surpassed)? Can credits be given to homeowners who add water-saving technology to their homes? What about power usage? Can fines be levied by municipalities against businesses that waste electricity (e.g., unecessary lighting left on all night)?
Even if the drought ends, the influx of people coming to Georgia will not.
Just like we can’t solve our oil problem by looking for more production (we need to find new energy sources), we can’t simpy keep fighting AL and FL and looking to build new reservoirs.
Or can we? Maybe that’s the simple answer.
July 10th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Little is hear to point out that THE WATER SHORTAGE IS ALL MENTAL
BGAAAAWKWKKKKKKK
WHERE’S CAROL?
WHERE’S SOUTHSIDESTEVE?
KOLTER I’LL SEE YOU IN THE ESS TEE ELL
July 13th, 2008 at 11:07 am
And to whom are you pointing this out?
Are you Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh or Keith Olberman - self-appointed saviors who need to give us Dummmb Peeples The Truth (their truth)?
Thanks for informing us as to THE TRUTH (oooh!), since we can’t read and inform ourselves. We really need you to post quips every three or four posts.
Typing “BGAWK” really helps us realize there’s no water shortage. Thanks.
All your posts really inform us about is your loneliness.
How many other boards doy you troll?
July 13th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
“WHERE’S CAROL? ”
Carol went into a deep depression when she heard the revised interim operating plan was approved. She hasn’t been heard from since.
July 13th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Right now, just for a counterpoint, many of our surrounding counties are disaster areas; many homes still have ten feet of water in them, and you still can’t use the road by the river that goes by the arch because it’s underwater. They’ve reopened all our highways though - several were closed at various low points as the Mississippi took back her traditional flood plain.
Soaked but surviving in St. Louis. I’m serious about a bucket brigade - you guys can have all the water you want.
(My wife and I are fine, incidentally - we live several miles from the river, and are on a relatively high spot besides.)
July 14th, 2008 at 5:28 am
RichS - thanks, if anyone sees Carol….tell her I love her, tell her I NEED her badly…..
Adult Diapers - no, no I am not “Hannity” nor “Limpaugh” nor “Leghorn”
I AM LITTLE HERE ME ROAR
BGGAAAAAWWWWKKKKK
p.s. tighter water restrictions NOT coming back this month
July 31st, 2008 at 10:59 am
Ms. Couch…we’re waiting.
BGAAAAAAAWWKKKKKKKKKK
August 2nd, 2008 at 6:09 am
DATELINE AUGUST 2 2008
LANIER AT IT’S HIGHEST LEVEL IN ALMOST A YEAR
BGAWWWKKKKKKKKKKKKK
August 2nd, 2008 at 9:04 am
CL - What are you talking about? The lake is at it’s lowest level since mid-March, and it’s FAR below this time last year.
August 4th, 2008 at 5:08 am
mea culpa
bgaaww……k..cough..hack…whezeee