Drinking water in the coastal city of Savannah could become more expensive and harder to come by if state agencies approve more water diversions on the Savannah River. Potential water diversions include proposals to keep North Georgia supplied with Savannah River water and one to cool new reactors at a nuclear power plant on the Savannah River.
The city of Savannah's chief water official said, he's closly following the plans since the city takes 40 million gallons a day from the Savannah River for drinking water. Harry Jue says, less water downstream means saltier and more contaminated water for the city.
"Getting clean, good raw water means lower production costs," Jue says. "Let's say you get a lot of bad water coming into our intakes, if it's possible to treat it, it's going to be higher production costs, which we'll have to pass on to our consumers."
In extreme circumstances, the city's intake facility could be forced to shut down. The backup is an underground source.
Environmental groups also fear effects on crabs, shrimp and marsh grass.
The city of Savannah's chief water official said, he's closly following the plans since the city takes 40 million gallons a day from the Savannah River for drinking water. Harry Jue says, less water downstream means saltier and more contaminated water for the city.
"Getting clean, good raw water means lower production costs," Jue says. "Let's say you get a lot of bad water coming into our intakes, if it's possible to treat it, it's going to be higher production costs, which we'll have to pass on to our consumers."
In extreme circumstances, the city's intake facility could be forced to shut down. The backup is an underground source.
Environmental groups also fear effects on crabs, shrimp and marsh grass.
