A look at what has been done to the Colorado River will make it clear how far metro areas will go to get the water they need. Defensive measures need to be taken to protect the Savannah River. Half-steps won't do the trick.
Metro Atlanta's 204-page plan to provide enough drinking water for the next 25 years doesn't so much as mention the Savannah River or Thurmond Lake.
But according to some environmentalists, the absence of such an option won't prevent the issue from being considered in the future.
"You won't find the Savannah River in this plan -- anywhere," said Frank Carl, the executive director of Savannah Riverkeeper Inc. "But if you read the fine print, they're already making some inroads on interbasin transfers, and setting some dangerous precedents."
The plan to supply drought-stricken metro Atlanta and its neighboring counties with water through 2035 calls for building six new reservoirs and increasing the amount of water drawn from lakes Lanier and Allatoona.
The plan, which is out for public comment through Jan. 31, also mentions Senate Bill 130, which prohibited the metro planning district from recommending interbasin transfers from outside its boundaries.
Such transfers can have environmental effects because water transferred to another river basin is released into that basin as treated wastewater -- creating a net loss for its basin of origin.
One loophole in state regulations governing such transfers involves the definition of water that can be sold to entities in another river basin, Dr. Carl said.
Toccoa, for example, is withdrawing water from three sources in the Savannah River Basin -- Davidson Creek, Lake Yonah and Toccoa Creek. That water is treated and then sold to Habersham County, which releases its treated wastewater into the Chattahoochee River Basin, which provides drinking water to metro Atlanta.
Thus, water from the Savannah River basin is being released into a different basin that feeds the Atlanta area, he said.
"What the fine print says is that as long as it is 'treated' first they can sell it and transfer it from one basin to another," he said. "This situation is only 1 million gallons per day, which is a very small amount. But it's the precedent we're worried about."
As the economy worsens, he said, other cities with access to water from one basin might want to explore revenue sources from selling water. "It can be a cash cow for some cities," Dr. Carl said.
The North Georgia Water Plan is also deficient in its effort to conserve water, he said. An earlier pledge to reduce usage by 20 percent was amended to 13 percent.
The complete draft water plan is online at www.northgeorgiawater.org/html/313.htm. The deadline for public comments is Jan. 31.
Reach Rob Pavey at 868-1222, ext. 119, or rob.pavey@augustachronicle.com.
PUBLIC INPUT
The Metro North Georgia Water Plan is out for public comment through Jan. 31. To view the entire draft plan, go to www.northgeorgiawaterorg/html/313.htm.
Comments
A look at what has been done to the Colorado River will make it clear how far metro areas will go to get the water they need. Defensive measures need to be taken to protect the Savannah River. Half-steps won't do the trick.
Does Disgusta really needs all the water?
The river must be protected. Hundreds of thousands of people from Thurmond Lake to the ocean depend on it. Salt water intrusion into coastal GA and SC is a direct result of decreased river flow. Augusta's nuclear facilities, industry, wasterwater treatment and drinking water depend on it.
Augusta does not have any nuclear facilities.
jboy, you are wrong. There are two nuclear facilities in the Augusta metro area. The Savannah River Site (SRS) used Savannah River water to cool the cores of the five reactors it once had operating. Also, the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (in Burke County) has two operating nuclear reactors. Of the two nuclear facilites, one facility with reactors is in operation, uses water from the river, and has plans to double its electric generating capacity. This expansion will include a need to nearly double the amount of water used from the river. OUr river must be protected; our communities rely on this river.
Atlanta's water shortage should prove that their area needs to limitations and restrictions on their urban sprawl and quit making the rest of the state suffer just because they don't have what they want/need, they are already fighting with Alabama over control of the Chattahoochee River, if they don't have enough water in Atlanta oh well just move to another city in the state or out of state and besides there is a little state called Georgia that exists outside of the Metro Atlanta area
Atlanta should have concentrated more on building their infrastructure before expanding beyond their abilities to support what they build. Their issue is not Georgia's issue. The entire state should have have to suffer for the greed of one area.
I think the CSRA should draw up a plan of secession from the state if they start talking about taking Savannah River water. My suggestion -- the state of Georgilina.
One weakness in Dr. Carl's thinking is the matter of "conserving" water. One cannot conserve water. You either use the water or not use it. The total amount of water in the world remains the same.
With the all growth and construcion going on in Augusta. We need all the water we have. To continue the success into the future.
The savannah river is key to Augusta becoming a major city. Unless Atlanta will trade fed money for water. Then no deal.
The Water is drawn from the Savannah River Basin by the city of Toccoa and treated and sold to Habersham County. Habersham County treats its wastewater and releases it into the Chattahoochee River Basin, which Atlanta draws its drinking water from. I was told years ago, that if you drank a glass of water in Chicago Proper, it had already been through eight other people. If Chicago can reprocess its drinking water from its own wastewater, Atlanta and Augusta and other cities can as well. It Is time for widescale Desalination, on a National Level. If Atlanta wants to trade FED Money for water, Let the Fed desalinate water and sell it to Atlanta. All Modern Cities should be using Desalinated ater. The Federal Government should make Desalination the Rule for cities over 100,000 in population. Natural streams and Rivers should not be drawn down to fullfill mans desires for cheap water.The Rivers should be used as a point of confluence for wastewater(properly treated) and for hydro electric power. The Nuclear power plants should be able to use the River as they provide a valuable resource.
I mentioned something like this in a post last year,althought a bit different.I can't remember all the names or details but: Atlanta is in a group of counties that can use the same water supplies and can't use from outside it.Any county that is adjacent to this group can join.THey have expanded the group into north Georgia and it extends up to Rabun County.If they get Rabun to join they can pump directly out of the Savannah River Basin without using treated wastewater.I find it interesting how anyone around here can complain about the growth and sprawl of Atlanta without also complaining about the same here. THey build a new shopping center,it and the stores are hot for awhile then the newness wears off and some of the stores close (more likely move to the NEWER shopping center that is considered the hot one now).Expanding subdivisions and schools into rural areas that don't have the infrastructure to support them, then have to add the infrastructure.No suprise since(especially in Col County)the County Commision and Planning and Zoning Boards have been made up mostly of realtors and developers.It's money in their pockets, at our expense. (redistributing the wealth for you righties)
Atlanta needs to be left to suffer for the lack of planning. One solution is for them to quit dumping raw sewage into the Chattahoochie river, maybe make them draw in downstream from where they dump into the river will force them to do that, the other is to fix the infrastructure, they waste more than 30% of the water through leaky pipes, there are documented cases of leaks going on for months without repairs. Also too many people in subsidized housing that do not pay for water, so therefore they have no incentive to conserve. The mentality of the people in Atlanta is that all of the water belongs to them and the problem belongs to everyone, maybe we should banish Atlanta from the state. Hold on Augusta, they will be coming at you with siphon hoses and take it if you are not careful.
"Atlanta's water shortage should prove that their area needs to limitations and restrictions on their urban sprawl and quit making the rest of the state suffer just because they don't have what they want/need" ------ Amen! Atlanta is like a spoiled child. They take, hold and spend most of the money. They purposely kept Augusta and Savannah separated without an interstate all these years. And now desperately seeking water to feed that stinkhole (Atlanta stinks worse than Savannah's marsh gas, need a mask to walk around Atlanta). If they want water, let them create their own! Augusta would make a better capital anyway --- more water; more room; and we're still GEORGIANS not 20000001 transplants!!
Sandy, you cannot "create" water. And you can't "conserve" water. The water in the world today is the same water that was here 10 million years ago.
Techy, please name the realtors and developers on the Planning and Zonoing Board and County Commission. Also, how many total members are there on each. In other words, proof of your allegations.
Eventually, the fate of the Savannah River will need to be decided by the courts-our southeastern water wars are reminiscent of those in the west. The Savannah River water level affects the state of South Carolina as well as the state of Georgia. Also, the level of the Savannah River needs to be adequate for the the functioning (including the addition of 2 new reactors) of the nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle. The Southern Company (Southern Nuclear/Georgia Power) has influence both inside Georgia and regionally. Possibly, there is reason to believe, that, ultimately, inter-basin transfers from the Savannah River basin to the Atlanta region, will never occur. By taking on an interstate utility and another state, some of the Georgia legislators may be overreaching. In terms of how laws and regulations are written and interpreted, to paraphrase Ronald Reagan: never trust, always verify!
Sandy, are you crazy? ATL does not stink. Have you ever actually been here? Cause I don't think the Augusta busses go that far. And if we decide to take your water, you won't be able to stop us. So, if you are nice, we will keep trying to steal it from TN.
"Sandy, you cannot "create" water." ----- Precisely. Now you get the gist of my post about Atlanta. No water, tough luck!
"ATL does not stink." ------ Oh, yes it does. Just going through their parking garages, you'll smell the aroma of a city full of barnyard animals ---- [filtered word]; vomit and the feces folks left there. Atlanta has animals as residents, literally. BTW, just because I ride the APT, doesn't mean I don't, nor haven't traveled around the country. If I wasn't a caretaker, I'd sure be traveling much more -- like anywhere except Atlanta!!
We will try to get along without you.
Go back to Atlanta, and literally dry up! :D
President Obama will fix this problem.
The savannah river is key to Augusta becoming a major city. Unless Atlanta will trade fed money for water. Then no deal.
Posted by sprintman on Tue Jan 20, 2009 9:19 AM
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LOL sprintman. Augusta will never become a major city with all the urban decay and political corruption. It will be always be a mini-Memphis.
Man it's hard finding out what these people really do but here are a few.Ron Cross, 65, Evans, GA – Cross is the chairman of the Columbia County Board of Commissioners and retired president and chief executive officer of CCI Construction Corporation. the building company he owns that was in charge of constructing the new courthouse in Evans.Charles Allen, husband of Columbia County Tax Commissioner Kay K. Allen(conflict of interest?),real estate agent. Ron Thigpen-banker(nothingrelated to development there)
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