Atlanta water use down 20 percent from August 2007

Water use in the city of Atlanta and south Fulton County was down more than 20 percent last month compared with August 2007, according to city data.

That far exceeded the city’s goal of a 10 percent reduction.

Janet Ward, spokeswoman for the Atlanta Department of Watershed Management, said her only explanation is that water conservation has become a way of life.

“People don’t think about it. They don’t flush their toilets as much; they’re taking shorter showers,” Ward said. “It’s exactly what we wanted to happen.”

Last month, an average of 89.6 million gallons of water a day was treated and pumped to businesses and homes. In August 2007, an average of 113.2 million gallons of water a day was used. Atlanta, which also serves surrounding communities, is the state’s largest public water user.

With the city requiring less water from the Chattahoochee River, more water can stay in Lake Lanier, the federal reservoir upstream that is region’s primary water source. Lanier continues to feel the affects of the lingering drought and is nearly 16 feet below full.