Ft. Benning: cutting water usage

Water level at Upatoi Creek, Ft. Benning. (Nat'l Weather Service)

Ft. Benning officials say the post, which uses an estimated six million gallons of water daily, is taking steps to slash that use, in light of the statewide, 10-percent cutback ordinance.

The post, which has an on-site water purification plant, is working with Columbus Water Works officials to adjust its usage, according to Garrison Commander, Col. Keith Lovejoy:

"We are in close coordination with Columbus Water Works to mirror exactly what the local community is doing to conserve resources -- no watering of lawns, no washing of cars. We are also looking at other measures to conserve water at our commercial operations."

In related news, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which operates Lake Lanier, expects the lake will be nearly 21 feet below full by December 7th. That will be its lowest point since the lake was built in the 1950s.

Meanwhile, however, Georgia is withdrawing its lawsuit against the Corps over how the group releases water from Georgia reservoirs.

Click here to read more on that and other GPB News drought coverage.

(With The Associated Press)

Army pledges $1.4 billion to families

The Army is pledging 1.4 billion dollars to support and aid soldiers' families, in a ceremony to be held at Ft. Benning on Wednesday.

Calling it an “Army Family Covenant,” the assistance will be used to bolster free child-care hours for spouses of deployed soldiers, offer free youth sports programs, build new on-post child-care centers, barracks and other facilities.

Senior Ft. Benning officials will take part in the ceremony, along with post garrison commander, Col. Keith Lovejoy. Lovejoy says of the program:

"...we’re putting money toward programs that will truly impact families, because the Army now recognizes, now fully understands that this is an overall readiness issue. The Army understands the impact the family here has on the mission over there.”

Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey announced the program earlier this month, and said that such ceremonies will be held at other army facilities.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of Ft. Benning.