COMMUNITY BRIEFS

ATLANTA

Water conservation amounts differ

The director of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division told state lawmakers Thursday that metro Atlanta could save up to a third of the water it uses with aggressive and expensive conservation measures.

Metro Atlanta’s water planners have been less ambitious. In a draft conservation plan, they’re shooting for a 13 percent water savings, at a cost of more than $1 billion, between now and 2035. They also plan to spend more than $3 billion to increase water supplies.

—- Stacy Shelton

DEKALB COUNTY

Doraville official has heart attack

After returning home Tuesday night from a mid-year budget meeting, Doraville’s mayor pro tem suffered a heart attack.

Donna Pittman began experiencing chest pains and was taken by ambulance to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where she was placed in the intensive care unit.

Pittman was transferred to the critical care unit on Wednesday after surgery, said a city spokesman. She is expected to be released this weekend.

A 40-something mother of four, Pittman, who will not reveal her exact age, was first elected to council in 2005.

—- April Hunt

GWINNETT COUNTY

More federal funds set to aid needy

Gwinnett County social service agencies soon will get an infusion of needed cash thanks to $514,968 awarded by the federal Emergency Food and Shelter Program.

The executive director of the Gwinnett Coalition for Health and Human Services said she hopes to start distributing the funds, a 38 percent jump from last year, sometime in March.

The money will be awarded to nonprofit agencies that serve the county’s needy. Applications for funding will be available on the Web site —- www.gwinnettcoalition.org —- some time today. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. Feb. 27.

Gerstein said calls to the coalition’s help line have increased more than 30 percent since September.

—- Gracie Bonds Staples

VENT OF THE DAY

Well, at least my wife feels bad about ignoring the dog when her family’s in town.