Worried about water? Do something about it tomorrow

By John Bennett

November 16, 2007

The outcome was predictable. Decades of unrestrained development in North Georgia + prolonged drought conditions = not enough water for floating pleasure craft in Lake Lanier, irrigating residential landscapes, washing cars and other important uses like, um, drinking.

And it’s not likely to get better up there anytime soon, according to an Oct. 25 report from the University of Georgia’s David Stooksbury:

“The extreme- to exceptional-drought regions of the state may muddle through the winter and early spring. But without significant recharge of the soil moisture, groundwater, streams and reservoirs, conditions next summer could become catastrophic.”

Before he petitioned for intervention from officials outside the state, Gov. Sonny Perdue put forth another idea. “We need to cut through the tangle of unnecessary bureaucracy to manage our resources prudently â€” so that in the long term, all species may have access to life-sustaining water,” he told USA Today in October.

Perhaps Gov. Perdue and I have differing views about what the word “prudent” means, but It sounds to me that his solution to our lack of water is to use more of it. Am I wrong? Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle added a little clarity in the same USA Today story. “This is not something we can conserve our way out of,” he said.

Except for outdoor watering restrictions, which are often enacted too late and lifted too early, I can’t find much evidence that we’ve even tried.

Here in Southeast Georgia, where outdoor watering restrictions are unenforced and unheeded, our water management efforts have been focused on building massive projects to make sure rainwater is evacuated into the Atlantic Ocean as quickly as possible. But lest we become smug, Stooksbury warns, we may be in the same boat (stranded on dry land) as our neighbors to the north.

“Drought conditions are expected to continue across much of Georgia through spring 2008 and may expand into southeast Georgia by spring.”

Still, there was good news in today’s Savannah Morning News for people, who aren’t ready to dismiss conservation as a water management strategy. The City of Savannah’s Water Efficiency Project is giving away brand-new, water efficient toilets tomorrow from 9 a.m. until noon at East Broad Elementary School, 400 E. Broad Street. The offer is available to City of Savannah water customers only. A copy of a water bill and photo ID is required. Supplies are limited, so get there early. For more information, call 651-2221 or 447-5577.