Chatter

By Mike K.

October 15, 2007 10:59 AM | Link to this

I’ve watched and read numerous reports about the drought and the water issue throughout the year. Why doesn’t any of the media talk about the real issue here-overdevelopment?

By Sparkie

October 15, 2007 11:13 AM | Link to this

Right, you don’t see overdevelopment discussed on the six o’clock news. They are the talking heads. The puppets who tell us only what we are supposed to hear.

By Nathan

October 15, 2007 11:14 AM | Link to this

Agreed, Mike K. We try to conserve at home the best we can (shorter showers being just one of the ways), but what good is our sacrifice if the commerical and industrial sectors in this state aren’t asked to do the same?

One of the main jobs of any government is to balance the interests of all of its constituents. Nobody wants the carwashes and landscapers to go out of business; that would really have an impact on the state’s economy. And if anything, these businesses are probably experts at conserving a resource crucial to their existence. At the same time, why aren’t we cutting down on the waste of water by overdevelopment? Do we need all these extra houses (most of them McMansions)? What’s wrong with the shopping centers we already have? I don’t know about others, but I don’t see a pressing need to continue this pattern of overdevelopment, at least not right now.

So, yes, it’s a tall order for the state government to balance all the interests. But if we, the people, are asked to sacrifice, it should also be equally distributed to business and industry.

By Nathan

October 15, 2007 11:16 AM | Link to this

Agreed, Mike K. We try to conserve at home the best we can (shorter showers being just one of the ways), but what good is our sacrifice if the commerical and industrial sectors in this state aren’t asked to do the same?

One of the main jobs of any government is to balance the interests of all of its constituents. Nobody wants the carwashes and landscapers to go out of business; that would really have an impact on the state’s economy. And if anything, these businesses are probably experts at conserving a resource crucial to their existence. At the same time, why aren’t we cutting down on the waste of water by overdevelopment? Do we need all these extra houses (most of them McMansions)? What’s wrong with the shopping centers we already have? I don’t know about others, but I don’t see a pressing need to continue this pattern of overdevelopment, at least not right now.

So, yes, it’s a tall order for the state government to balance all the interests. But if we, the people, are asked to sacrifice, it should also be equally distributed to business and industry.

By Atlanta Native

October 15, 2007 11:16 AM | Link to this

The overdevelopment problem will disappear when employers have to shut down due to lack of water and the employees are laid off. People will eventually move away to somewhere else where they can find work. The rest of us may be a little gamey from taking sponge baths.

By Anthony

October 15, 2007 11:16 AM | Link to this

Actually, some in the media are starting to talk about over-development as the real issue here. See Bill Shipp’s column; it appeared in last week’s Northside Neighbor: text to be linked

By Nathan

October 15, 2007 11:18 AM | Link to this

Agreed, Mike K. We try to conserve at home the best we can (shorter showers being just one of the ways), but what good is our sacrifice if the commerical and industrial sectors in this state aren’t asked to do the same?

One of the main jobs of any government is to balance the interests of all of its constituents. Nobody wants the carwashes and landscapers to go out of business; that would really have an impact on the state’s economy. And if anything, these businesses are probably experts at conserving a resource crucial to their existence. At the same time, why aren’t we cutting down on the waste of water by overdevelopment? Do we need all these extra houses (most of them McMansions)? What’s wrong with the shopping centers we already have? I don’t know about others, but I don’t see a pressing need to continue this pattern of overdevelopment, at least not right now.

So, yes, it’s a tall order for the state government to balance all the interests. But if we, the people, are asked to sacrifice, it should also be equally distributed to business and industry.

By Nathan

October 15, 2007 11:18 AM | Link to this

Agreed, Mike K. We try to conserve at home the best we can (shorter showers being just one of the ways), but what good is our sacrifice if the commerical and industrial sectors in this state aren’t asked to do the same?

One of the main jobs of any government is to balance the interests of all of its constituents. Nobody wants the carwashes and landscapers to go out of business; that would really have an impact on the state’s economy. And if anything, these businesses are probably experts at conserving a resource crucial to their existence. At the same time, why aren’t we cutting down on the waste of water by overdevelopment? Do we need all these extra houses (most of them McMansions)? What’s wrong with the shopping centers we already have? I don’t know about others, but I don’t see a pressing need to continue this pattern of overdevelopment, at least not right now.

So, yes, it’s a tall order for the state government to balance all the interests. But if we, the people, are asked to sacrifice, it should also be equally distributed to business and industry.

By Nathan M.

October 15, 2007 11:19 AM | Link to this

Agreed, Mike K. We try to conserve at home the best we can (shorter showers being just one of the ways), but what good is our sacrifice if the commerical and industrial sectors in this state aren’t asked to do the same?

One of the main jobs of any government is to balance the interests of all of its constituents. Nobody wants the carwashes and landscapers to go out of business; that would really have an impact on the state’s economy. And if anything, these businesses are probably experts at conserving a resource crucial to their existence. At the same time, why aren’t we cutting down on the waste of water by overdevelopment? Do we need all these extra houses (most of them McMansions)? What’s wrong with the shopping centers we already have? I don’t know about others, but I don’t see a pressing need to continue this pattern of overdevelopment, at least not right now.

So, yes, it’s a tall order for the state government to balance all the interests. But if we, the people, are asked to sacrifice, it should also be equally distributed to business and industry.

By Nathan M.

October 15, 2007 11:19 AM | Link to this

Agreed, Mike K. We try to conserve at home the best we can (shorter showers being just one of the ways), but what good is our sacrifice if the commerical and industrial sectors in this state aren’t asked to do the same?

One of the main jobs of any government is to balance the interests of all of its constituents. Nobody wants the carwashes and landscapers to go out of business; that would really have an impact on the state’s economy. And if anything, these businesses are probably experts at conserving a resource crucial to their existence. At the same time, why aren’t we cutting down on the waste of water by overdevelopment? Do we need all these extra houses (most of them McMansions)? What’s wrong with the shopping centers we already have? I don’t know about others, but I don’t see a pressing need to continue this pattern of overdevelopment, at least not right now.

So, yes, it’s a tall order for the state government to balance all the interests. But if we, the people, are asked to sacrifice, it should also be equally distributed to business and industry.

By Nathan M.

October 15, 2007 11:19 AM | Link to this

Agreed, Mike K. We try to conserve at home the best we can (shorter showers being just one of the ways), but what good is our sacrifice if the commerical and industrial sectors in this state aren’t asked to do the same?

One of the main jobs of any government is to balance the interests of all of its constituents. Nobody wants the carwashes and landscapers to go out of business; that would really have an impact on the state’s economy. And if anything, these businesses are probably experts at conserving a resource crucial to their existence. At the same time, why aren’t we cutting down on the waste of water by overdevelopment? Do we need all these extra houses (most of them McMansions)? What’s wrong with the shopping centers we already have? I don’t know about others, but I don’t see a pressing need to continue this pattern of overdevelopment, at least not right now.

So, yes, it’s a tall order for the state government to balance all the interests. But if we, the people, are asked to sacrifice, it should also be equally distributed to business and industry.

By Nathan M.

October 15, 2007 11:20 AM | Link to this

Agreed, Mike K. We try to conserve at home the best we can (shorter showers being just one of the ways), but what good is our sacrifice if the commerical and industrial sectors in this state aren’t asked to do the same?

One of the main jobs of any government is to balance the interests of all of its constituents. Nobody wants the carwashes and landscapers to go out of business; that would really have an impact on the state’s economy. And if anything, these businesses are probably experts at conserving a resource crucial to their existence. At the same time, why aren’t we cutting down on the waste of water by overdevelopment? Do we need all these extra houses (most of them McMansions)? What’s wrong with the shopping centers we already have? I don’t know about others, but I don’t see a pressing need to continue this pattern of overdevelopment, at least not right now.

So, yes, it’s a tall order for the state government to balance all the interests. But if we, the people, are asked to sacrifice, it should also be equally distributed to business and industry.

By Atlanta Native

October 15, 2007 11:22 AM | Link to this

Nathan, quit hitting the stupid Post button. Thank you.

By where is sonny ?

October 15, 2007 11:23 AM | Link to this

why isn’t there a statewide code to put water conserving fixtures in all new developments? ask sonny

By common sense

October 15, 2007 11:24 AM | Link to this

I’m surprised no one has suggested curbing demand/consumption by raising prices. Then again, the protections of free market are trumped in the name of some tadpoles in florida.

By Scott

October 15, 2007 11:25 AM | Link to this

Put signs at the Georgia borders….closed due to drought..thanks for visiting. Check back when we have enough water for y’all

By Nathan

October 15, 2007 11:26 AM | Link to this

Apologies for the multiple posts.

By lonnie hicks

October 15, 2007 11:33 AM | Link to this

I am not up on all residental construction codes but at some point circulation pumps would be a good idea to insure instant hot water at user end. Many gallons of water are wasted waiting on the shower to get hot.

By Soryu

October 15, 2007 11:34 AM | Link to this

Where is Sonny:

Japan I think. But you’ll do much more good by xeriscape than water saving devices in the home. Water used inside eventually is returned to the aquifer or drainage via the sewer system or septic drain lines. Most shrubs and trees in the landscapes in Georgia can take a good deal of drought especially if they are properly mulched. One of the largest users outside is turf grass and even a drought-resistant grass like Bermuda needs regular watering absent rainfall to stay green. Much of this water is lost to evaporation and is not returned to the drainage of aquifer and so this water is lost forever. If new developments were required to use xeriscaped landscapes instead of turf grass and gave established landscape owners a case incentive to replace turf grass with xeriscape (like Southern Nevada does) you’d greatly reduce one of the biggest sources of water use—turf grass irrigation.

By LC

October 15, 2007 11:36 AM | Link to this

The developers are busy building homes here today. Guess there is no water shortage after all. Think I’ll wash my car.

By Earl

October 15, 2007 11:38 AM | Link to this

I’ve lived where we had water rations, granted they lasted for only three weeks but that was the longest three weeks of our lives. They did hard shut offs to our homes. You couldn’t cheat, there wasn’t any water to cheat with. We were given a schedule as to when we could bath and flush the toilet. By week three we were ready to move, it was pure hell.

By Noelle

October 15, 2007 11:40 AM | Link to this

I’m doing pretty much all I can personally, but it sure seems like a waste of effort when the car wash stalls in my apartment complex were busy all day on Saturday. Seriously, a group of people were apparently running a car wash business out of the place. I’m calling my complex today to ask why the water’s even still on there — it should’ve been cut off weeks ago, at minimum.

By Kat

October 15, 2007 11:41 AM | Link to this

I don’t take long showers in the first place, but I did tell my teenage daughter that when the governor asked citizens to take shorter showers, I’m pretty sure he meant her! He was just too polite to mention her by name.

By lk

October 15, 2007 11:42 AM | Link to this

I think baths probably use less water, but it’s harder to recover any of it. I’ve begun putting a pail in the shower while the water warms up and turning the water off while soaping up, shaving my legs etc. Then turning it on to rinse. I don’t have figures but I know I’ve got to be reducing my shower water use dramatically. I’ve also got rain barrels ordered and will be installing those for when we do get rain again. Right now, the shower water alone is allowing me to water all my house plans and out door plans without any additional water usage. After the first frost, I’ll actually have a pretty good surplus of water each day from that activity.

I wish it was easier to recover gray water from sinks, washing machines etc.

More needs to be done to encourage conservation from individuals and to restrict development unless we have the resources (water, roads etc) to support it.

By J.T.

October 15, 2007 11:42 AM | Link to this

I’m taking shorter showers using a new low flow shower head. I also keep a bucket in the shower to catch some water to use in the garden. I’ve purchase rain barrels to attach to my gutters so that when it rains I’ll be able to use the water from the downspouts in my garden. I use left over coffee and tea to water potted plants. I keep a small bucket handy to put in the sink and capture water as I wait for it to heat. I use that in the garden as well. It’s really been simple and I envision that I will continue these practices IF we get beyond this problem. I encourage others to do the same.

By GT81

October 15, 2007 11:42 AM | Link to this

Nathan! You have shattered the ajc.com record! The previous record was 4, and you doubled that with 8. That is gonna be tough to beat.

By where is sonny ?

October 15, 2007 11:47 AM | Link to this

can anyone imagine what would happen to Atl’s 100 yo infrastructure if there no water pressure in the pipes?

By Jonny

October 15, 2007 11:49 AM | Link to this

Short of being a stinky European, I do better than anyone I know on the water consumption front. My water will shows a consumption of 0-1 CCF’s a month. That’s me showering everyday. That’s also with a water saver shower. I flush every time. That’s with a water saver flush mechanism (they are much improved, no more double flushing!). My point is that I don’t go out of my way to conserve, but I also don’t go out of my way to consume. For those that seem to go out of their way to consume (pool owners, lawn waterers, parents that let their kids run the water for hours), the water company needs to charge at a higher rate. I’m thinking consumers of 20 CCF’s or higher should start paying 5x the rate for those consuming 0-4. In Atlanta we already have a system that discourages high consumption. I only think the discouragement could be a bit harsher in times like these.

By WTF

October 15, 2007 11:51 AM | Link to this

Sonny can kiss my A$$!!!! Until they stop the dayum building of new homes/businesses everywhere, I will not inconvenience my family any more than I have. I don’t water my yard (grass or flowers), and I go to the car wash to wash the car when it gets to the point that I can’t stand it. But until I see more involvement in solving the problem from the elected officials, WHATEVER!!!!!!!!

By jess-me

October 15, 2007 11:56 AM | Link to this

Showers positively require less water than a tub bath. I’ve actually reverted to a bathing method used in the early 1900’s: Begin with a basin of clean water. Using a cloth, wash your face first, working your way as far down as possible. Then start at your feet and legs and wash as far up as possible. When that’s accomplished, WASH POSSIBLE. You’ll feel clean and refreshed and use a minimum amount of water.

By bmm

October 15, 2007 11:57 AM | Link to this

So overdevelopment may be a problem, but people moving to our city and region is not a bad thing. It is a sign that the economy is good here and that we live in a nice place to live. Maybe the real issue is the lack of our government officials to plan for the steady growth we have experienced since early 1990s (and really since the 1970s). The water problems are indicative of a lack of planning in general (whether it is the lack of adequate reservoirs or lack of adequate transportation options, which is an embarrassment given that we are one of the nation’s most booming metropolitan regions). Also, the amount of water the Army Corps of Engineers drains out of our reservoirs each day is a shame, particularly given that all those gallons are not needed as badly downstream (I saw a news segment where people in Alabama were washing lawns and cars from Chatahoochee river water, and why not since the water is there for them)!

By jess-me

October 15, 2007 11:58 AM | Link to this

Showers positively require less water than a tub bath. I’ve actually reverted to a bathing method used in the early 1900’s: Begin with a basin of clean water. Using a cloth, wash your face first, working your way as far down as possible. Then start at your feet and legs and wash as far up as possible. When that’s accomplished, WASH POSSIBLE. You’ll feel clean and refreshed and use a minimum amount of water.

By Jim

October 15, 2007 11:58 AM | Link to this

Where is the leadership in this state? Why haven’t we heard directly from the Governor on this issue — instead of the appointed heads of agencies. Why don’t we have a Plan “B” instead of hoping for more rain.

By Toopster

October 15, 2007 12:00 PM | Link to this

Yes, shorter showers, have moved to washing hair every other day, use of dehumidifiers in the summer and use the water it collects in my garden. Also use leftover coffee and tea water in plants, and collect water that I’m waiting to heat from faucet in a bucket. However, I will say that the building down here has been crazy, we’ve exploded the metro atlanta area all while tying into the same water source, the same sewer systems, and keeping the highways at 3 lanes.

This issue is much bigger than traffic. We are paying the price for years of overdevelopment.

By Chad

October 15, 2007 12:02 PM | Link to this

What is ridiculous is the fact nobody is talking about solutions. In Aruba, they have the safest drinking water in the world - they use a desalination process and tap the vast resources of the ocean. We are a coastal state and should take advantage of this technology and process - as should Florida. This whole thing is utterly ridiculous.

By Brian

October 15, 2007 12:10 PM | Link to this

Common sense… It is not our fault that our local government has permitted the clear cutting developers to build as many strip malls and cluster townhomes as they have pleased for the past 20 some years. Droughts are part of nature and we should have enough water to ensure we survive the drought, that is what a we have reserves for. Everyday more and more buildings are being built, what about ten years from now, give me a break. Cut the permits down to zero and we will have more water in the lakes in the future.

By Brother Bill

October 15, 2007 12:17 PM | Link to this

A huge use of water is from consuming animal products. It takes 5000 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of beef. So go vegan if you really want to conserve water. As a side effect, you’ll be much healthier to boot.

By greg

October 15, 2007 12:23 PM | Link to this

I just attended the Echo Project. Didn’t take a shower for 4 days. I made up for it by taking a 10 minute shower when I returned last night. :-)

By gafarmer

October 15, 2007 12:30 PM | Link to this

Absolutely the best set of comments on water usage I’ve ever read.

There are a series of townhall meetings to gather public comment on the Georgia Water Plan in progress today and the rest of this week.

Go to the Department of Natural Resources website to find the meeting most convenient to you. ATTEND and COMMENT!!!!!

By relevant?

October 15, 2007 12:33 PM | Link to this

Since we’re talking about conserving LOCAL water during a LOCAL crisis, the vegan argument is a little specious. It’s based on corn production and consumption, and since most corn is grown in the midwest, and most beef cattle are raised in the west, not eating beef is going to have about as much impact on our water usage as not buying gas for a day is going to hurt the oil industry.

But hey - keep grinding those personal axes. That helps!

By stop playing water games

October 15, 2007 12:34 PM | Link to this

There is enough water flowing thru the rivers in Atlanta to meet our water needs. The Fed Corps of Engineers are mis-managing the amount of water going down stream. This is a waste of resoures and what for. Is it political. Is there a desire to see the people in Atlanta die of thrist while Alabama and Florida wash cars and water lawn and fish and 30 endangered clams soak in billions of gallons of water that then pours into the ocean.

By the real problem

October 15, 2007 12:37 PM | Link to this

The governor addressed one of the problems yesterday. Release of water by Corps of Engineers. Left out two others: Georgia Power generating and the archaic ritual of letting lakes down in the winter. While overdevelopment caused ga power to generate more, you people spouting overdevelopment are probably living in new houses and are part of the problem. Everybody jumps on the bandwagon when things get touch. Bottom line: water sustains life, everything else is a luxury. Somebody fix it.

By JC

October 15, 2007 12:37 PM | Link to this

Hey Mike K., So what is your solution to the ‘hyper over-development’? Sounds like another case of wanting to have your cake and eat it too. If you shut down building permits, then the job growth will quickly go to another city that is pro-growth. You are either growing or shrinking, if we shut down, Atlanta does stand pat, it will shrink. If we start shrinking, we lose jobs and we have less people to pay more bills. Then the city falls (even further) into disrepair, like what happened to Pittsburgh and Detroit. Atlanta is generating high paying jobs that are generating a disproportionately high portion of the tax revenues for all of Georgia. This situation has been brought on a failure of the Georgia legislature to tackle tough problems. The state failed to build another large reservoir years ago when they could have at a much more reasonable cost than we’re facing today. Almost every other mid-tier city in the country has significant greater reservoir resources per capita because they made plans to handle it along the way. Georgia legislature instead choose to stick their heads in the sand and let this become a future generation’s problem. We’ll get through this drought and this will be forgotten quickly. While this should be a shot across the bow to take action for the future of Atlanta/Georgia, it will be pushed off again, imperiling future residents when the next drought happens.

I went over to the Chattahoochee River Park on Friday morning for a run. I couldn’t believe what I saw, the Chattahoochee was nearly as high as I’ve ever seen it, cresting the banks. For the Corps to be releasing that volume of water every day is beyond foolish, unless someone is overstating the problem (and that doesn’t seem to be the case by the looks of the lake levels at Lanier and Altoona.

By J Thompson

October 15, 2007 12:38 PM | Link to this

MARTA is watering at the Lindburg station. The plantings are not new and I saw the wet sidewalks/plants at 6:45 am today, October 15th.

By Nonia

October 15, 2007 12:44 PM | Link to this

I have a green bermuda lawn and haven’t watered it since the house was built in 2000! The shrubs haven’t been watered either since 2000! My theory is if God keeps the trees and grass green on the sides of the highways without humans watering them then why should I spend money and waste natural resources watering my lawn and it is just as green! I have been for the last 2 months showering while standing in a large garbage pail and using this “gray water” to flush the toilets with. I have buckets to capture the waste water from my washing machine and buckets outside to capture the AC condensation, if and when it warms up enough to run the AC. I fault the Army Corp. of Engineers and state officials for allowing this to happen. The laws on the books here in Georgia are laws that were on the books when Atlanta was a small country city and the suburbs were farms and plantations! Nothing has been done to revise the laws and this is what happens, first it was the traffic problems, now it’s our water supply! Whats next? Well i’m not sticking around to find out, I am putting the house on the market and moving to Seattle, Texas or Oregon where this is less of an issue at least for the rest of my life on earth. The ENTIRE ATLANTA METRO AREA economy will come to it’s knees-yes a screeching halt when you turn the faucets on and nothing comes out!-Govenor Perdue needs to declare a State of an Emergency RIGHT NOW!!! How can we trust the Army Corp. OF Engineers when we see they obviously aren’t very intelligent-just look at the levees they designed for New Orleans that were expected to hold up during hurricane Katrina!!! Alabama isn’t currently and haven’t been under water restrictions-they are still watering their lawns ans washing their cars in their driveways while we may not have water to even drink around Christmas of this year!

By Donald

October 15, 2007 12:53 PM | Link to this

Amid all reporting and all the consternation, all the WSB and all the AJC, no one asks Isakson and Chambliss why they are so silent. Why have they not LOUDLY screamed for the termination of the Interim Operating Plan and the Corps of Engineers cessation of dumping our reservoirs? Am I missing something? USFWS and the Corps ARE NOT GOD.

By Brother Bill

October 15, 2007 12:54 PM | Link to this

I can tell you that there is livestock in Georgia. This includes chickens, pigs, cattle as well as slaughterhouses (meat packing plants). Animals, including humans, need huge amounts of water to produce each pound of flesh. So going vegan is definitely a way to reduce water consumption.

By AM

October 15, 2007 12:55 PM | Link to this

The unbridled growth continues - strip malls, condos, crammed in housing. Then we have illegals that are using our resources. Where is the leadership? Where is the commons sense. We had this same problem about 5 years ago. No leadership in that time frame, just business as usual and now the homeowner are the one having to suffer. People are talking of raising the price of water? How could that possibly help when the building and overpopulation continues. Where is the common sense??

By Parched in Cumming

October 15, 2007 1:02 PM | Link to this

Water Games is the only poster here sharing my own viewpoint…

The water is in the river, and is moving southbound at a pretty good clip. To scream at one another to avoid using it is downright pointless. All the water you “save” is still where? In the river, leaving your region behind. The only exceptions are those water customers in Forsyth, Gwinnett, Hall, Dawson, and above. Water saved there remains in the lake.

Yell at the Corps of Engineers. The only possible water conservation for Atlanta lies behind that dam.

By GS

October 15, 2007 1:02 PM | Link to this

**Isn’t it amazing how most of the people commenting are saying the same thing—-STOP THE OVER DEVELOPING!!! “We the people” are “suppose” to be who they represent, but that hasn’t been the case in some time now — they don’t hear us. Why should I conserve water when the commissioners in the metro area continue adding condos/apartments/houses 3 feet apart on the same water system that was deficient years ago?

By GS

October 15, 2007 1:02 PM | Link to this

Isn’t it amazing how most of the people commenting are saying the same thing—-STOP THE OVER DEVELOPING!!! “We the people” are “suppose” to be who they represent, but that hasn’t been the case in some time now — they don’t hear us. Why should I conserve water when the commissioners in the metro area continue adding condos/apartments/houses 3 feet apart on the same water system that was deficient years ago?

By GS

October 15, 2007 1:02 PM | Link to this

Isn’t it amazing how most of the people commenting are saying the same thing—-STOP THE OVER DEVELOPING!!! “We the people” are “suppose” to be who they represent, but that hasn’t been the case in some time now — they don’t hear us. Why should I conserve water when the commissioners in the metro area continue adding condos/apartments/houses 3 feet apart on the same water system that was deficient years ago?

By Donald

October 15, 2007 1:04 PM | Link to this

WHY OVERDEVELOPMENT? Try a fat tax base, lots of money to spend - makes me a big, fat, politician. I look like Huey Long; I can dole out political favors ‘cause I got lotsa’ tax money and many fat contracts. Pay to keep me in office, and I’ll make you rich. You’ll be a fat, red-neck Bubba, just like me and the rest of the Georgia Legislature.

By Pandora

October 15, 2007 1:04 PM | Link to this

I honestly believe that before the State of Georgia started those water restrictions for private homes, they should have had those restrictions for cooperations, churches and other places of business. It isn’t good for the ozone at all. Dry grass = fire hazard!

No I’m not cutting back anymore with my personal water use inside my house especially since I can’t even water my yard or plants! I refuse to do so! I have always conserved water and I’m not cutting back anymore than I ordinarily have.

By inferno

October 15, 2007 1:05 PM | Link to this

Send the 3 million illegals back over the border and we’ll have enough water for the US citizens.

By inferno

October 15, 2007 1:09 PM | Link to this

Send the 3 million illegals here in Georgia back over the border and we’ll have enough water for the US citizens.

By Jane

October 15, 2007 1:15 PM | Link to this

Overpopulation. If there are fewer people, fewer houses and businesses need to be built. Fewer houses and businesses mean less water use, less energy use over all. A global issue, yes; but we can act locally, like in our bedrooms, at in vitro fertilization clinics, etc. This issue is difficult for governments to address, so it is up to us, the voters, the citizens, to take action (or not act, as the case may be) and hopefully our leaders will follow.

By Donald

October 15, 2007 1:16 PM | Link to this

‘Parched’ nailed it; all the water the Metro area should concern itself with is that flowing south from Sidney Lanier Dam, and that is the water that your elected ones in Washington sit idly by and allow to flow. Until Washington instructs the Corps to turn off the spigot, you will watch the last drop disappear down the river. It is WAY beyond the point to RAISE HELL !!! Everyone in this state should get on Isakson and Chambliss like white on rice, and not let up. When it finally occurrs to these half-wits that they’re playing political suicide, they’ll dance.

By JC

October 15, 2007 1:17 PM | Link to this

GS, you’ll be the same person screaming about the increasing taxes and general lack of affordability if they limit/stop building permits. Atlanta is adding in population a city the size of Charleston each year. If that growth doesn’t come here, it goes elsewhere. And then the people chasing the opportunity leave Atlanta for the places that are embracing job growth. Less people to pay the same amount of bills = quick acceleration is tax rates. While people love to scream about Atlanta is too big, too many people, they better be careful what they wish for, the result of stopping that growth spigot is a significant higher cost of living for those left behind and fewer jobs to pay those higher bills.

By AV8R

October 15, 2007 1:21 PM | Link to this

There needs to be a very large impact fee for new developement, to fund a new water source. Anyone with a brain can look at the lakes and streams in the area and see that we’re in big trouble, how we got there is not nearly as important as how we’ll get out.

By Koz

October 15, 2007 1:24 PM | Link to this

I took 2 showers yesterday

By AM

October 15, 2007 1:28 PM | Link to this

JC - I’ve lived here in Atlanta for over 30 years - when the population was less the quality of life was better and the cost of living was less. So exactly how do you figure your comment. If the people went somewhere else, common sense would dictate, that our resources usage would be less and with less people - more supply vs less demand would be less making the cost less not more. Where is the leadership?? Where is the common sense??

By Get Real

October 15, 2007 1:30 PM | Link to this

I am all for conservation. I watered only one day in the past six months when my yard was dying this summer. With that said, I believe that the Governor needs to take the following actions.
First, the Governor should tell the Corp to shut the valve on the damn or we can shut it for them. This will ensure that we can get through the normally dry fall.
Second, we should institute heavy fines for watering ($1,000 for the first offense) in excess of what is allowed and allow our police to issue the citations (when the water departments are closed).
Third, we should be removing as much silt as possible from the dry lake beds to allow more storage later. Fourth, we need to look at where we can work with the Corp to add more dams. Fifth, we need to look at how we can cut water consumption in Georgia from a business perspective (while not impairing business). Sixth, if the Governor fails to act like a leader, then we need a recall election.

By Jeff

October 15, 2007 1:33 PM | Link to this

Florida, Alabama and the endangered clams down stream should be just as restricted as Atlanta Metro in water use. Why should more water be sent down stream then mother nature would allow during this kind of drought at the expense of Atlanta Metro making all the sacrifice. Atlanta Metro should have more importance when it comes to water. This is one of America’s major cities. I hope the Corps of Engineers are not trying to create another Katrina. They can stop this. Just stop sending so much water down stream to the ocean. What are they trying to prove?

By Koz

October 15, 2007 1:37 PM | Link to this

Jeff, Actually they’d have to release a whole lot more water to create another Katrina.

By cara

October 15, 2007 1:44 PM | Link to this

Why can’t we suck some water from the ocean and bring it inland?

By Jeff

October 15, 2007 1:47 PM | Link to this

Koz,@1:37 What I meant is do the Corps of Engineers want to create another disaster in another major U S city; this time by holding back drinking water.

By Robert

October 15, 2007 1:56 PM | Link to this

Start by taking Navy showers to conserve water. The state government should start a powerful public awareness publicity campaign through ALL media. Too many folks are unaware of the current water situation.

By Disgusted

October 15, 2007 2:09 PM | Link to this

Why do we continue to supply water to Florida and Alabama when we are in such dire straits here? Someone please explain this to me.

By Disgusted

October 15, 2007 2:11 PM | Link to this

Why do we continue to supply water to Florida and Alabama when we are in such dire straits here? Someone please explain this to me.

By Gerald

October 15, 2007 2:15 PM | Link to this

First of all north Georgians, get your facts together. Virtually EVERY city in Alabama except Mobile which has seen decent rains this year have enacted numerous water rationing plans. Even here in Dothan, the odd/even schedule for lawn watering which runs from May 1st to October 31st, will continue until further notice. Further north, the situation is much dire. All of northern Alabama cities have enacted major rationing programs so get yoru facts checked.

Atlanta WILL run out of water next year, you can bank on it. Your developers massive greed has now overtaken the resources needed to sustain that sprawl and now its time to face the consequences for your incompetence. But know this, Alabama and Florida WILL GET ITS WATER!

By Van

October 15, 2007 2:16 PM | Link to this

I won’t even bring my car through the automatic car wash at this point. However, if it rains this week like they are predicting I will be out there in the driveway washing it in the rain.

By Bob from Accountttemps

October 15, 2007 2:16 PM | Link to this

Get Real, When you refer to the govnuh, you talking about Sonny Perduenothing?? What tremendous leadership! He waits until we hit crisis and then decides to act. A true leader plans for problems before they become critical. It’s not like this happened overnight. Why did he let the Corps drain more than was coming in? Downstream should suffer with the rest of us.

By Disgusted

October 15, 2007 2:18 PM | Link to this

Gerald…..you are the personification of greed.

By Van

October 15, 2007 2:21 PM | Link to this

To cara:

“Why can’t we suck some water from the ocean and bring it inland?”

Because that would take money away from the Iraq war, and people would not want to pay an additional water tax to fund it. Also, it might cut into the monthly budget for lottery tickets.

By southern hope

October 15, 2007 2:21 PM | Link to this

GT81, too hilarious! Yes, Nathan - through his 8 replies - has set a new standard that even an olympian would fear to take on! LOL

(nathan, don’t feel too badly…until I caught onto the slow system, I would sometimes post items 2 & 3 times….not at your level but close!)

By Cabin Shower

October 15, 2007 2:23 PM | Link to this

I know there are many theories on the real cause of the problem, but my main concern is what can I, as an individual do? My attitude is that every little bit counts. We are letting our landscape dry up of course, and I’m proud of my dusty, dusty car. Clothes that are clean and non-smelly after a wearing are being worn again before they are washed. My mother owns a vacation home in the north Georgia mountains. It is in an area with a shared well and a poor pump, so water must be used carefully. The entire extended family uses it, and takes what we all call “cabin showers,” meaning that we turn off the water when doing anything except wetting down and rinsing, and we make it as short as possible. Also, we follow the yellow/brown rules with the toilet up there. I’ve been thinking of implementing “cabin rules” at home, no matter how loudly my 17-year-old howls! I’m also bathing my dogs with baby-wipes!

By lovelyliz

October 15, 2007 2:25 PM | Link to this

I’ve given up may lawn, vegetable garden and having a clean car already.

By Nonia

October 15, 2007 2:29 PM | Link to this

I have a green bermuda lawn and haven’t watered it since the house was built in 2000! The shrubs haven’t been watered either since 2000! My theory is if God keeps the trees and grass green on the sides of the highways without humans watering them then why should I spend money and waste natural resources watering my lawn and it is just as green! Watching the news and to see people still are watering their grass is absolutely beyond me-these are the same people that are going to cry foul when they turn on the faucets or flush the toilet and nothing happens! I have been for the last 2 months showering while standing in a large garbage pail and using this “gray water” to flush the toilets with. I have buckets to capture the waste water from my washing machine and buckets outside to capture the AC condensation, if and when it warms up enough to run the AC. I fault the Army Corp. of Engineers and state officials for allowing this to happen. The laws on the books here in Georgia are laws that were on the books when Atlanta was a small country city and the suburbs were farms and plantations! Nothing has been done to revise the laws and this is what happens, first it was the traffic problems, now it’s our water supply! Whats next? Well i’m not sticking around to find out, I am putting the house on the market and moving to Seattle, Texas or Oregon where this is less of an issue at least for the rest of my life on earth. The ENTIRE ATLANTA METRO AREA economy will come to it’s knees-yes a screeching halt when you turn the faucets on and nothing comes out! Restaurants and local companies will be forced to close by the Health Department because of unsanitary conditions and Hotels will close because of the same reasons-The Power Plants that rely on water in the Chatahoochee to supply power to Atlanta-I used to work for Georgia Power and they may be able to shift more power production to their nuclear plants away from plants dependent on water-it is going to be ugly folks. This is sure to cause a local recession, then the crime goes up when you have desperate family’s that have no job to go to in addition to higher taxes for those that stay to overcompensate for the loss of tax revenue-yes it is about to get ugly!-Govenor Perdue needs to declare a State of an Emergency RIGHT NOW!!! How can we trust the Army Corp. OF Engineers when we see they obviously aren’t very intelligent-just look at the levees they designed for New Orleans that were expected to hold up during hurricane Katrina!!! Alabama isn’t currently and haven’t been under water restrictions-they are still watering their lawns and washing their cars in their driveways while we may not have water to even drink around Christmas of this year! Once these lakes dry up-THERE IS NO WATER PERIOD! We need to have water desalination plants down on the coast of Savannah and the pipelines to get it here. We need to stop supplying other states with water and let them be responsible for providing their own solutions. I think even if a Goverment mandated halt to sending water to other states is issued, I problem will still be unresolved because of the amount of overdevelopment that has and still is occuring. I would love to know who was the braniac that thought 2 0r 3 of our lakes would be sufficient to supply well over 6 million people, places of business, and 2 additional states, water? All of this is abolutely ridiculous! The Govenor needs to get his * on TV and address these concerns in a State Address or hold a TownHall meeting! We need the EPA folks from Washington, DC here on TV or through CNN to provide some answers/solutions!

By Bob from Accounttemps

October 15, 2007 2:32 PM | Link to this

Yes, every little bit helps, but I’ll be darned if I’m going to do the disgusting yellow/brown deal especially when I see continued residential and commercial watering and waste. There doesn’t seem to be much enforcement in my area, but then again, how can the Sandy Springs cops be expected to do anything useful when they’re so busy manning speed traps and writing revenue tickets for the City coffers?

By Nonia

October 15, 2007 2:36 PM | Link to this

I have a green bermuda lawn and haven’t watered it since the house was built in 2000! The shrubs haven’t been watered either since 2000! My theory is if God keeps the trees and grass green on the sides of the highways without humans watering them then why should I spend money and waste natural resources watering my lawn and it is just as green! Watching the news and to see people still are watering their grass is absolutely beyond me-these are the same people that are going to cry foul when they turn on the faucets or flush the toilet and nothing happens! I have been for the last 2 months showering while standing in a large garbage pail and using this “gray water” to flush the toilets with. I have buckets to capture the waste water from my washing machine and buckets outside to capture the AC condensation, if and when it warms up enough to run the AC. I fault the Army Corp. of Engineers and state officials for allowing this to happen. The laws on the books here in Georgia are laws that were on the books when Atlanta was a small country city and the suburbs were farms and plantations! Nothing has been done to revise the laws and this is what happens, first it was the traffic problems, now it’s our water supply! Whats next? Well i’m not sticking around to find out, I am putting the house on the market and moving to Seattle, Texas or Oregon where this is less of an issue at least for the rest of my life on earth. The ENTIRE ATLANTA METRO AREA economy will come to it’s knees-yes a screeching halt when you turn the faucets on and nothing comes out! Restaurants and local companies will be forced to close by the Health Department because of unsanitary conditions and Hotels will close because of the same reasons-The Power Plants that rely on water in the Chatahoochee to supply power to Atlanta-I used to work for Georgia Power and they may be able to shift more power production to their nuclear plants away from plants dependent on water-it is going to be ugly folks. This is sure to cause a local recession, then the crime goes up when you have desperate family’s that have no job to go to in addition to higher taxes for those that stay to overcompensate for the loss of tax revenue-yes it is about to get ugly!-Govenor Perdue needs to declare a State of an Emergency RIGHT NOW!!! How can we trust the Army Corp. OF Engineers when we see they obviously aren’t very intelligent-just look at the levees they designed for New Orleans that were expected to hold up during hurricane Katrina!!! Alabama isn’t currently and haven’t been under water restrictions-they are still watering their lawns and washing their cars in their driveways while we may not have water to even drink around Christmas of this year! Once these lakes dry up-THERE IS NO WATER PERIOD! We need to have water desalination plants down on the coast of Savannah and the pipelines to get it here. We need to stop supplying other states with water and let them be responsible for providing their own solutions. I think even if a Goverment mandated halt to sending water to other states is issued, I problem will still be unresolved because of the amount of overdevelopment that has and still is occuring. I would love to know who was the braniac that thought 2 0r 3 of our lakes would be sufficient to supply well over 6 million people, places of business, and 2 additional states, water? All of this is abolutely ridiculous! The Govenor needs to get his * on TV and address these concerns in a State Address or hold a TownHall meeting! We need the EPA folks from Washington, DC here on TV or through CNN to provide some answers/solutions!

By Tim

October 15, 2007 2:37 PM | Link to this

Use #1 at least twice before flush, take shorter showers, cut off water when brushing teeth. Don’t fill tub. Use less at kichen sink. Drink and cook with bottled water.Conserve;This is serious.

By Jane

October 15, 2007 2:38 PM | Link to this

Bob, your attitude is part of the problem. One person can make a difference, especially if you also encourage those around you to take steps to curb their water and overall resource use. The yellow/brown thing isn’t gross if you close the lid.

I’ve been taking “cabin showers” for years and I’ve lived in downtown Atl my whole life.

By jack

October 15, 2007 2:39 PM | Link to this

I’ll start taking shorter showers when morons like Nathan quit hitting the post button over and over again. Think of how much water is must take to have his mom wash her face over and over again after crying about her idiot son !!!!!

By jack

October 15, 2007 2:39 PM | Link to this

I’ll start taking shorter showers when morons like Nathan quit hitting the post button over and over again. Think of how much water is must take to have his mom wash her face over and over again after crying about her idiot son !!!!!

By Brian

October 15, 2007 2:46 PM | Link to this

Why conserve when the new town home development down the street has been running sprinklers, because they are exempt from the restrictions, it is new landscaping. WTF? I am writing this email in the shower right now, screw the government, they let this happen with over development.

By Cabin Shower

October 15, 2007 2:47 PM | Link to this

Nice little bit of irony there Jack.

By George

October 15, 2007 2:48 PM | Link to this

Conservation is good but with the faucet wide open on Lake Lanier to save the fish in Florida, the lake will still run dry even if we totally stop using water now.

Conservation only makes sense if we have something to conserve.

Write your Gov and Senators supporting their efforts to have the USACE release reasonable amounts of water down the Chatt. river.

By R

October 15, 2007 2:48 PM | Link to this

That was funny.

By Atticus

October 15, 2007 2:49 PM | Link to this

If the Army Corps of Engineers is letting the same amount of water release from Lanier each day, what effect will conservation have in the areas served by that lake? If we use less, that just means mod=re water down stream, right?

By rkquiet

October 15, 2007 2:49 PM | Link to this

There are 6,800 homes in foreclosure, and builders are still building McMansions? Come on, wake up, the entire area is being overdeveloped. I drive 18 miles to work one way. I have to go past 3 Super-Walmarts all built within the last 3 years. More strip malls than I can count, and new ones going up every day, some on TWO lane roads that can’t handle any more traffic now! Save the Greater Atlanta area, and close our borders, stop new construction for 12 months and see what happens.

By Bob from Accounttemps

October 15, 2007 2:50 PM | Link to this

Jane, I don’t have an attitude concerning the situation and absolutely do not waste water. I NEVER water my lawn and like Nonia points out (twice), my lawn does just fine. But it’s tough to keep from being just a bit cynical when you see outdoor watering still going on months into a drought. My family’s water use doesn’t amount to a gnat on a pig compared to the shameful waste that still goes on every day. The Stone Mountain attraction is just one example- whoever thought that was acceptable should be fired! And until a week later, they still defended their position. Continue to take your “French Baths” if it makes you feel better. But aim your anger at the bureaurats who failed and continue to fail to act to curtail the waste that is still evident months into this.

By Southern Born

October 15, 2007 2:54 PM | Link to this

I think I see a case of the pot calling the kettle Jack.

By the real truth

October 15, 2007 3:01 PM | Link to this

gwinnett needs to shut down their covered pools and watering they are doing

By Tim

October 15, 2007 3:06 PM | Link to this

Can we sue our county government for getting us into this situation in the first place? STOP allowing more new subdivisions from being built when we have no plan on how we are going to support the growth with limited resources. Stop the commercial entities that feel it is so important to make the grass in front of their business that much greener than the rest of us.

If my property values are in jeapordy because I can not maintain my lawn and trees and shrubs properly, BECAUSE of the exploding growth and inability to control the commercail development, I should also be compensated, don’t you think?

I was driving on Brown Rd by Discover Mills the other day, next to the new Homewood Suites, 6:30 in the evening. That little two foot wide strip of grass between the sidewalk and the street looked so nice and full and green. And there was so much water being sprayed all over the sidewalk and the street by all the automatic sprinklers. It disgusted me and made me angry! I saw the saem thig in front of Chic Fil A at Satellite and Sugarloaf one night. the entire street was flooded. When I drove by, the water was spraying so powerfully out of thise sprinklers, my van got soaked. I went back by two hours laterm and the sprinklers were still on!!

I think we should stop allowing further building permits for the developers until a new plan is in place to take care of this shortage. And agressively go after the commercial entities that are still wasting water on their flowers.

By dex

October 15, 2007 3:08 PM | Link to this

As long as greedy counties allow even more greedy developers to overbuild large homes in mega subdivisions for people that can’t afford them we will continue to have water problems no matter how fast I shower.

By jddawg37

October 15, 2007 3:11 PM | Link to this

I agree with lonnie…I waste more water waiting for hot water than the total bath itself. I also don’t need 1.3 gallons of water to wash away my 2/3 cup of urine.

By Steve Bistritz

October 15, 2007 3:11 PM | Link to this

I am not only taking shorter showers, but I have found another way to conserve water while taking a shower. Since I wash my hair every day, I found that I can apply suds into my hair and then turn off the water while I scrub the shampoo into my hair. I have found that I save approximately 90 seconds per day of water use with that specific initiative. While that might not sound like a lot, taken over a year it is like turning off the water for more than 9 hours per year!

By Connie

October 15, 2007 3:14 PM | Link to this

I am originally from SOuthern California, thought I haven’t lived there for almost 20 years now. You want to talk about an area of the country never meant to sustain the population that it does? Southern California was devloped on a coastal desert! Had the development stopped there? No! The development will not stop here either. “If you build it, they will buy” is still the thought of the day.

There has been no long-term planning for water consumtion in the area as there has been no long-term planning for any of the other infrastructu