Lake Allatoona: mudflats caused by the drought are seen here encroaching on the marina, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2007. (Dave Bender)
Water systems in drought-stricken northern Georgia have exceeded a state mandate to reduce the region's consumption by 10 percent, an early sign that the state's conservation efforts are working, Gov. Sonny Perdue said Tuesday.
But some providers actually increased their water use compared to this time last year. Some 31 of the region's 97 largest water providers didn't come close to meeting the goal, while another 17 were "oh so close," said Carol Couch, the state's top environmental official.
Still, Perdue said he was "amazed and surprised" that the 61 counties reduced their water use by about 13 percent - about 348 million gallons a day.
"This is enough water to supply 1.7 million Georgia households everyday," he said.With reservoir levels at record lows, Perdue ordered public water providers and utilities with water withdrawal permits throughout north Georgia in October to cut their withdrawals by 10 percent. He warned then that systems could face fines from the state's Environmental Protection Division if they don't comply.
Data released by the state Tuesday revealed, though, that dozens of those under the order hadn't met the mandate, including electric utility Georgia Power. Six of the company's 10 power plants didn't meet the state's order, and several used more water than they did in the same period last year.
That includes Plant Hammond, north Georgia's biggest water user, which used nearly 550 million gallons of water a day in November - an increase of almost 50 million gallons of water a day over last year. The region's second-largest water user, Plant McDonough, also increased its water use by 13 million gallons a day compared with the previous year.
Georgia Power spokesman Jeff Wilson said 93 percent of the water its plants use is returned to the water body from which it was withdrawn. He said the power plants that consume the water are baseload plants that run continuously to supply the state's electrical needs.
"Generating facilities have been actively implementing measures to reuse water and reduce water where feasible," he said. "We will continue to work to identify additional conservation and reuse practices."He also said the company is trying to more aggressively detect leaks and suspend all "nonessential water use."
Perdue wouldn't say whether the state will move to fine providers that didn't meet his order.
"We're not saying what consequences will or will not be," he said. "We think most people will do their part. We haven't focused on the consequences. We focused on how to diagnose how systems aren't successful."The dry conditions have also given a new sense of urgency to to settle a water fight that's lasted almost 20 years over how the federal government manages water in the region.
At a meeting on Monday, the governors of Georgia, Florida and Alabama and the federal government agreed not to reduce the minimum amount of water flowing into Florida's Apalachicola Bay, and pledged to come up with a plan for doling out the region's water by March.
Click here for more on that story, and other ongoing GPB News and multimedia coverage of the drought.
(The Associated Press)
