Rick Badie / My Opinion

By Deborah Lee

January 8, 2008 8:36 AM | Link to this

That would be O.K. if they outlawed golf courses too. A golf course can use 2 to 4 million gallons of water a year. Hardly a drop in the bucket. Has Georgia put restrictions of their water use or started charging them more? I doubt it.

By One

January 8, 2008 8:53 AM | Link to this

And we know why………because golf courses generate far more $$$ than swimming pools. And we all know it’s all about the dollar bills…….at least that’s what most think!

By Katie

January 8, 2008 9:33 AM | Link to this

Golfers can putt on brown grass as far as I’m concerned. It’s a game. We need water to drink, bathe in and cook with. Who gives a flying flock about golf.

By Spock

January 8, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this

I’m fairly certain that golf courses are under water restrictions. The problem is that there is no restriction on well water. I am highly suspicious that this claim is ever verified. Anyone can put a sign up in his yard that says that his water source is from a well. Well I say, prove it. If the metropolitan municipalities had a lick of sense, they would require an official permit to be applied for and displayed. In this way, proof of a well would have to be provided and verified. But in regards to swimming pools, this is a bit more tricky. Private individuals who have the means along with a selfish agenda, are going to fill their pools no matter what. Water usage is the sole indicator, and I seriously doubt that water companies will have the resources nor the competency to monitor this and follow up on it when things look askance.

By Michael H. Smith

January 8, 2008 10:32 AM | Link to this

Define development and growth Rick. Most people and I do believe you as well incorrectly define development and growth as simply meaning, building structures. Focus on population increases, mostly due to immigration coupled to migration based on or due to favorable economic conditions and then we might have a legitimate conversation. This is no “Field of Dreams”, my friend: Build it and they will come. They build it, because the people are here and more are coming.

Before we close down these golf courses, a few facts need consideration. Gwinnett County presently sends some of our highly treated waste water to three golf courses to supply them with turf water. On the surface this may appear wasteful, though, what is taking place below the surface is very useful in recharging the ground water that assures us that our streams and rivers will continue to flow and remain sustainable.

The water issue has no magic bullet, no one shot cure. Many aspects go into in the resolve and like many others, even those with expertises beyond my grasp, would say it is doubtful our state legislator and the various state boards will do the right things to reach that resolve. Failures past and present will likely include the future as well, Rick.

By Michael H. Smith

January 8, 2008 11:06 AM | Link to this

You’ve raised several issues I love to spend the time on, Spock. To cut things short: Out door watering or irrigation should use only harvested rainwater and gray-water (preferably pre-treated). The permitting of wells should only be granted to counties and cities and those who have no municipal water connection available.

Phosphates in detergents should be banned statewide (without special permits) to make gray-water reuse for irrigation purposes acceptable and environmentally friendly.

By Spock

January 8, 2008 11:49 AM | Link to this

Michael, I agree on your issues regarding rain water and gray water. I myself collect water from a dehudifier in my basement, have a bucket in my shower and a bilge pump to get every last drop out of the bathtub where my wife showers. But my concern regarding well water is this. In the area where I live (city of Atlanta) and along my daily commute, I see automatic sprinklers in action that contradict a drought. So much so, that there are literal creeks running down the gutters in the morning. (not to mention all the mis-directed sprinkler heads generously watering the street) Now these areas are old enough for the homes to likely have wells, but there is no proof without a physical observation. And in this day and age, there are many who don’t give a damn and are going to water their landscape regardless of environmental conditions. Hence my suggestion of an authorized permit. My personal feeling is that even watering from a well should be banned, but that is a different topic for another day. Maybe I’m a little off topic in that my comments are concerned with residential watering as opposed to golf courses and swimming pools. BTW, thanks for your call out of the use of waste water on golf courses. I am sure that there are few that think of that alternative.

By Michael H. Smith

January 8, 2008 12:09 PM | Link to this

To have a well now you must have a permit is my understanding and the state does that permitting. You are absolutely right about well water use to irrigate. That is why I wish… and I know it is only a very big not going to happen wish, that the state would establish a gray-water reuse code including designs for acceptable systems. But, there again, we run up against the state plumbing board (which operate nearly autonomous). People using sprinklers (supplied from drinking water sources) in this drought should be locked-up. We are looking at probably another year of drought, if this one is like the others of the past. I don’t think people really understand how serious this thing could become.

By Bruce Wicox

January 8, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this

Arizona has been in a drought far longer than Georgia. They too lived by the mentality build it and they will come, they did. It took Arizona, like what is happening here, a few years to figure out that while developement brings in more people and taxes, it causes a bigger drain (pun intended) on water resources. Arizona finally realized that all the revenue raised by the additional taxes from developement cannot buy the water to supply the increase in population.

Now any type of developement is strictly controled, grey water is pushed for new housing and the great rush to Arizona has slowed to a trickle (another pun).

I think Arizona has better idea of what can happen when the water runs out, like the many mining towns of the old West, you end up with a ghost town.

By doggirl

January 8, 2008 2:01 PM | Link to this

On the surface, it makes sense to have the pool ban, but what about those who make their living in the pool business? It might not be “life-threatening” to you to go without a pool, but it certainly could be if your lifestyle depends on your job in that business. Everyone is quick to dash this unnecessary use and that unnecessary use of water, but their definition of unnecessary is if THEY don’t need it. Obviously, changes and bans have to take place, but let’s not assume that banning pools is a victimless idea. Building pools in the ATL area is a multi-million dollar business with dozens of companies involved in the building of one pool. It may not be a big deal to go without swimming for a summer, but it is a huge deal to go without a paycheck.

By Katie

January 9, 2008 8:13 AM | Link to this

Oh come on. Pool people can find other jobs. You can’t use that as an excuse. If there was no water they would go out of business anyway. Or, they could start cleaning/maintaining pools at the aquarium or at zoo Atlanta. Or, move to another state. Another option would be to allow the pool companies to keep building pools and allow skaters to use them. Using water to shower and cook with is far more important than a luxury item such as a pool. Believe me, I’m with you to some extent. Personally I think there are too many people and that is a drain on all resources. I like pools but in times of emergencies, and I’m not saying there currently is, priorities first.

By Katie

January 9, 2008 8:14 AM | Link to this

Oh come on. Pool people can find other jobs. You can’t use that as an excuse. If there was no water they would go out of business anyway. Or, they could start cleaning/maintaining pools at the aquarium or at zoo Atlanta. Or, move to another state. Another option would be to allow the pool companies to keep building pools and allow skaters to use them. Using water to shower and cook with is far more important than a luxury item such as a pool. Believe me, I’m with you to some extent. Personally I think there are too many people and that is a drain on all resources. I like pools but in times of emergencies, and I’m not saying there currently is, priorities first.

By MC

January 9, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this

if there are no pools, people will need to go somewhere, and this is where a real problem begins, they will go to lakes and rivers and parks, the same places that have seen drastic funding cutbacks, and places that have been slowly sold piece meal style. when people start going to these places there will be very large crowds with very little space available, there’s not much space at parks as is! this will lead to traffic problems, arguments, tempers flaring, and everything else you can think of that comes from too many people in too small a place. however, we have one trump card left, moms, in my neighborhood moms use the pool as a babysitter, a place where they can burn energy off of their kid while the whole time ignoring the child no matter how loud they are, so they can hang out with other moms. I don’t see stay at home moms giving up this luxury. they’ll fight for this one.

By ahhh

January 9, 2008 9:00 AM | Link to this

We are in a drought pattern and will be for the next couple of years most likely according to the folks that study these things. Our wonderful and brilliant State, County and City officials have been preoccuppied with development, growth, and all things that put money in the coffers. No one has been the least bit concerned with what would eventually happen when we overburdened our infrastructure….especially our water! Not only do we need more reservoirs, we need to end this ridiculous tri-state water war.

Florida should forget it, they’re a penisula surrounded by water…can we say desalinization as a solution for them. As for Georgia and Alabama, they both need to build reservoirs and begin immediately requiring all new development to incorporate rain harvesting and gray water cisterns to stop the wasteful practice of using drinking water to flush toilets, fill pools and water the yards!!

There needs to be major incentives offered to those who already own homes that cannot easily or cheaply be retrofitted with rain harvesting and grey water collection systems to be able to do just that. HOA’s need to get off their high horses and allow their residents to use use rain barrels as a means to keep their landscape investments green as opposed to brown.

Office parks should be required to use rain water for all landscaping as should the golf courses. If the general public has to abide by the rules of an outdoor ban, everyone should, period.

We all need to think differently and act differently. We should also demand that of businesses, Home Owner Associations and of our our government officials. Even if it rains everyday for the next 3 months, it will not change the fact that this is a real problem that is not going away.

There are rain water collection options out there now for the homeowner that are economical for rain water collection - rain barrels. I use rain barrels to water my landscaping and it works quite well. It’s actually better for your plants because it has nitrogen and doesn’t contain all that chlorine.

check out www.noahsrainbarrel.com

By MC

January 9, 2008 9:10 AM | Link to this

we’re all to blame in this mess, mainly for allowing our govt to not worry about accountability, not have to plan well for the future, and we allow them to fly under the radar because all of the stupid political sqaubbling in this country today. all the ‘my political party can beat the hell out of your political party’ crap. politicians polarize us and then encourage us to fight amongst ourselves. we need to focus on things that help this country, not things that help one political party or another. when was the last time this country was able to get something really big and really important done? when was the last time we built a hoover dam, or something like interstate system, panama canal, the railroads? it just seems we can’t get together enough anymore to get anything really done for this country. and it’s way too simple to always blame everything on the environmentalists. it’s more the fault of politicians who don’t want to take the tough stands, don’t want to do the hard things, don’t want to spend the money for a big project. we need more reservoirs, all new house need cisterns, and anything that saves power, saves water. in Israel every house has solar powered water heaters, it’s the law. and yes solar power works and no you wouldn’t run out of hot water any faster than you do now, and even if you did, just get a slightly bigger solar collector. and look at how Brazil is using all ethanol. but so many of us have been conned into believing that being green is being a wimp, caring about the environment is for bed wetting tree hugging liberals. and none us want to be called names. but where do you think this bs manipulation and invalidation originates, from people who truly care about this country or from someone who only cares about big businesses needs?

By Solution

January 9, 2008 9:19 AM | Link to this

Here’s an easy and green way to fill your backyard pool. Go to a home improvement store and get some flexible downspout extenders (cheap, a few dollars each). Attach them to your downspouts and direct them to your pool. Every time it rains, you will get thousands of gallons of roof runoff water which will keep your pool more than full with clean water.

By Sierra Club

January 9, 2008 9:31 AM | Link to this

exactly! people have been so manipulated into believing that those darn environmentalists are the ones causing all the problems. so many people actually have been fooled into believing that environmentalists have the last say on anything and everything. please! just like the oil companies use them to raise prices because those omnipotent liberal environmentalists won’t let them build a new refinery. please! or the power companies that use environmentalists to keep their plants using lots of water (see sturgeon and mollusks), and now again, it’s those pesky wimpy environmentalists that won’t let anybody build a resrvoir. please! there is one thing that trumps everything in this world even those darn liberals and thats money and power. if the rich and powerful want a new refinery (but that would mean spending money on infrastructure) they can get one, if the rich and powerful want a new reservoir they can get one. this problem is squarely on our government and nobody trumps them in this country. so if they want to do it, it can be done no matter what opposition they may get. liberal environmentalists do not have the last say on policy in this country, the government does, the same people in charge of managing our water resources. we need to stop looking to blame or invalidate others for everything in this country and turn that spotlight around and shine it back on the people whose jobs are to take care of these problems.

By Spock

January 9, 2008 9:40 AM | Link to this

Rain barrels are fine and good, but the lack of rain is why we are in this predicament

By Solution

January 9, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this

Hey, Spock - stop concentrating on finding fault in a good suggestion and look on the positive side. The lack of enough rain in the Lanier watershed is why we are in this predicament. The rain hasn’t stopped - it is still raining (look out your window) and every time it rains (and it will continue to rain although maybe not as much as the watershed needs), there is runoff from your roof that can be used for other purposes.

By Spock

January 9, 2008 10:35 AM | Link to this

To Solution; I am not trying to find fault with rain barrells, I think they are a good idea. And if you read my previous posts, you will see that I am doing what I can in the situation. But the fact is, while it might be raining on occasion, look at the rainfall deficit. You yourself echoed my statement regarding the cause of the situation, you just worded it differently. I’m afraid that what rain is collected will most likely evaporate between rainfalls, and what doesn’t will become breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

By ahhh

January 9, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this

Solution is right. Did you know that 1/2 inch of rain on 1000 square feet of roof will yield 300 gallons of water. Even a drizzle or the morning dew directed into your rain barrels will provide an amazing amount of water. By putting rain barrels on every downspout and directing your overflow to your pool, water gardens, flower beds, etc. you will keep your pool toppped off and your landscape investments looking good. I use my rain barrels to fill bird baths and my water gardens…… www.noahsrainbarrel.com

By ahhh

January 9, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this

Spock check out Noah’s Rain Barrel, they offer a closed system so it can’t become a mosquitoe breeding ground. That’s the type I use and I have had no issues with the mosquitoes. The open systems are the ones you have to be concerned with…you can buy the mosquito dunks, but I didn’t like the idea of kids or small animals potentially falling in, so I prefer the closed system.

By Bonedaddy

January 9, 2008 11:02 AM | Link to this

I have had to drain off excess water several times this year from my pool. Even last year I did not have to top off my pool. It is a large in ground and I never had to add a drop. I do not understand about this dilemma. Maybe the public pools with hundreds of people splashing around is the problem. Maybe they need to drink lots of water before they swim and relieve themselves in the pool to help fill it up. I just don’t see this issue with my pool. Regarding the rain barrel’s, I converted my moonshine still to water catchers. The moonshine residue has not killed my plants.

By Michael H. Smith

January 9, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this

Anyone in Gwinnett remember the storm water fee?

How many who use rain barrels or cisterns (above or below ground in closed loop irrigation systems)will get storm water fee exemptions?

Oh but wait a minute… almost forgot we’re in a drought, right? That means very little storm water run off can be produced and now people are into harvesting rain water. So what little run off might have occurred will never happen beyond the driveway.

Watch to see what happens when people begin to press this issue. Why should we have to pay for something being produced that is not being produced?

Is it time for some government honesty and accountability?

You betcha!

http://www.stormtech.com

http://www.invisiblestructures.com

PS. I would love to stick around but I’m out of here for the day.

By Spock

January 9, 2008 11:20 AM | Link to this

To ahhh (and Solution); Sounds good! Here’s to hoping for torrential downpours this Spring.

By Michael H. Smith

January 9, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this

One more just because I like the art work. Later…

http://www.thenaturalhome.com/drywellinstallation.htm

By Sandy_G

January 9, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this

Pool companies that build pools can perhaps “just find something else to do” or “move to another state” but they will take their tax revenues and their jobs with them.

Pool companies that maintain public pools employ people as well to clean and maintain the pools and to act as lifeguards. Again, the state will lose jobs and tax dollars.

Neighborhood pools provide summer jobs to teenagers, help to increase and support existing property values and give teens and kids something to do in the summer rather than roam the streets getting into trouble. Without these pools, again, you lose jobs and tax dollars and you could see an increase in police costs due to more juveniles with nothing to do in the summer.

Our public officials have exercised little or no control or guidance over our growth, and have done nothing over the past few years to insure that our citizen’s most basic needs such as water, public safety and transportation have been adequately planned for and funded in anticipation of that growth.

They have killed the goose that laid the golden egg so to speak and now we shall begin reaping the consequences. Due to the unregulated growth, crippling traffic, and increased crime, upper income folks are starting to leave the county in droves, companies who could bring in jobs are choosing to locate elsewhere, our tax base is shrinking and our schools are failing. Yet, our elected officials still sit upon their “thrones” rubber-stamping rezonings and site plans for even more dense residential and commercial development, squabbling over how many $100 rebate coupons they will give to people to change their toilets to low-flow, refusing to revamp building codes to require things like pervious surface driveways, green building technologies, etc., while all the time, telling us there is nothing they can do to ease our water crisis, our traffic congestion or our crime.

It’s practically criminal what our elected officials have allowed to happen to this county on their watch and they should be held accountable for it come next election.

By Momof4

January 9, 2008 12:02 PM | Link to this

We have a backyard pool that we keep open year-round. It’s a salt system that requires few chemicals. We haven’t filled it since the ban and with all the rain that we got at the end of the year, we actually had to backwash it because it was too full. When it gets warmer (or downright HOT) and if it doesn’t rain for an extended period of time, we’ll be in a heap because if fiberglass pools aren’t filled, they’ll crack. That won’t be good! So, we’ll just pray for an inch of rain every now and then and probably use Solutions simple idea of running the downspouts into the pool. Great idea!

By MC

January 9, 2008 12:24 PM | Link to this

when using rainwater downspouts for something like a pool, be sure to filter the water somehow. a lot of sediment comes off of most roofs, sandy grit from shingles mostly.

By Abe

January 9, 2008 1:00 PM | Link to this

we used to have leaders that tried at least to please 80% of the people most of the time, now we have leaders that are only concerned with fooling 51% of our people. the divide and conquer strategy of winning. and sadly it’s working, but only for them, not for real Americans. it used to be United We Stand, now our motto has changed to Divide and Conquer. that’s why our elected officials don’t have to pay attention us and just blow off any concerns. if they’re not directly benefitting from something, up front, it’s something they’ll pass along to the next administration, they gots theirs, to heck with anybody else, taking on real issues and real problems head on is too hard. and they got away with it all by claiming they were doing it for our children, or for God or for the Stars and Stripes and most people were sucked in like they were swimming around a whirlpool. and where did it get us? keep supporting the Democratic or Republican party before you support what’s right for America as a whole and elected officials will never have to do too much worrying about being held accountable for any of their actions or especially any of their inactions. we’re not going to please everybody in this country, but we can do a helluva a lot better than we are right now. we’re not care of business, by believeing idiotic catch phrases like ‘the children are our future’ we are ignoring our own resposibilities today. we are our future! what we are doing right now will determine the future. and everybody need to get the lead out!

By Monica

January 9, 2008 2:09 PM | Link to this

This past summer, our county encouraged those with a pool to continue adding water as needed. The water authroity stated that pools that are not properly maintained, meaning not having enough water, become a mosquito breeding ground and therefore a health hazard.

How about a moratorium on building new houses and subdivisions? Surely that would save water.

By ahh

January 9, 2008 2:38 PM | Link to this

To MC’s point about filtering the water coming from your downspouts being directed to your pool or water gardens, that is a valid point.

If you don’t have gutter guards there are some filters you can put in the top of your downspout to keep out larger debris (leaves, acorns, etc.). We use a skimmer basket with screen in it to filter for the smaller stuff headed for the pool or ponds.

Pools lose water primarily to evaporation during long, hot dry spells, splashing and small undetectable leaks.

By puhleez

January 9, 2008 2:56 PM | Link to this

How about a moratorium on strip malls too! That’s what we all need -another strip mall - NOT!

By Laura

January 9, 2008 3:26 PM | Link to this

Rick this is akin to the ad I saw for the boat show this weekend. Who’s gonna buy a boat when there’s no place to float???

By I love my pool

January 9, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this

I purchased a home with a pool over 5 years ago. Why? Because I like to swim in the summer. If a pool-ban is created then I guess the water Nazis will have to come and give me a ticket. After I pay the fine I will still be floating in my pool. I don’t water my lawn, I rarely wash my cars and when I do it’s at a place that recycles water. But I will not go without a pool this summer.

By M. James

January 19, 2008 11:55 AM | Link to this

To anybody that wants to keep their pool open in 08 by means of Rain Harvesting. First connecting a flex pipe to your downspout and running it in your pool is not to practical and will not keep your pool topped off as needed, not unless your using your pool for a Reservoir. The concept of Rain Harvesting is to store clean Rainwater for future use. Rain barrels can be used to collect Rain, also not to practical to keep a pool topped off and if you can seal a Rain barrel from Mosquito’s, what about the alga growth from being exposed to sunlight and heat? Rain barrels are not worth the trouble to store Rain long term, but how long can one store 50 gals. before consuming? One day! The solution to outdoor watering is to collect Rain in an 1000 gal. or more underground cistern and consume as needed. Storage underground will not allow alga growth or breed Mosquito’s. Our water supply is not treatened because of lack of rain, the water demand is much higher than our water supply.It Rained 33 inches in 07, the average home can collect 1000 gal. or more per 1 inch of Rain-fall for storage. One time cost, no treatment needed, Free clean Rainwater forever. More Info:
Website: www.rainsaveratl.com