Cobb county may soon have to find other water options. Right now, the gate on Lake Allatoona that provides almost half of Cobb County with water is less than 10 feet away from being exposed. The gate pulls water from the lake into the pipes that transfer it to Cobb County. Two other gates are already out of commission.
Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority Manager, Glen Paige, said there is one gate left, 7 feet deeper than the other three. No one knows if it even works; it’s never been used. But, Paige said not to worry, there are other options.
“If the lake level continues to fall, we will need to take other measures, including what we’re considering, which is installing some temporary pumps nearly a mile away in a deeper pool in the lake,” said Paige.Before the deepest gate can be used, two or three feet of silt have to be removed and the gate must be tested. That process will cost a hundred thousand dollars. Temporary water pumps would cost six times as much.
