Rainwater Harvesting Guidelines Considered

Changes to Georgia's water policy could mean rainwater may become popular for use in toilets.

The changes haven't been made final, but water conservation advocates are hopeful Georgia's Department of Community Affairs will approve a unified code for rainwater harvesting.

That water, collected from roof tops and other receptacles during rainstorms, could then be used in toilets or for watering plants, among other applications.

Unifying the code would make collecting rain a bit more difficult than just setting up a rain bucket outside. Harvesting requires an investment in equipment, including pumps, filters and hoses, says Dan Young.

Young works for Aqua irrigation based in Marietta.

"Typically on a homeowners rainwater harvesting system, you're looking at spending anywhere from 8,000 dollars to anywhere from 75,000-100,000 dollars."

That high dollar figure is for fitting large homes and commercial properties. Young, along with a national trade group, says when Georgia changes their policies on harvesting, and creates best practice guidelines, the prices of the equipment and labor will fall in the state.

Young estimates the average home could reduce water usage by a third with the proper equipment.

The DCA is expected to issue their final draft rules by this summer.

South Georgia Braces For Flooding

The storms that once again brought multiple inches of rain to parts of the state have now given way to concerns over waters rising this morning. An update from Ken Davis of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency:

"What we're seeing is a continued rise in the river and creek levels, particularly across southwest, south-central, southeast, and even central Georgia."

As example this morning, flooding includes the Satilla River in Waycross, affecting residents in Pierce and Ware counties. Moderate flooding is happening now, with major flood stage for that river forecast by this afternoon. Many secondary roads are closed across south Georgia and central portions of the state. For a time last night, a section of Interstate-75 in the Cordele area had to be closed to traffic with water covering the roadway.

GEMA's Davis says there are also 20 school systems, mainly in south Georgia, closed today.

Davis says there were no reports of any tornadoes in Georgia.

More Rain Heightens Flooding Concerns

A new round of rain is forecast for much of Georgia from Wednesday through at least Thursday. But while the state still needs precipitation in the big picture of the drought, the rain is not welcome news for saturated south Georgia. The region is still trying to recover from flooding over last weekend. Earlier this week, Governor Sonny Perdue declared a state of emergency in six south Georgia counties.

Because of concerns over flooded roadways, some school systems in south Georgia are closed today: Baker County; Berrien County; Brooks County; Colquitt County; Cook County; Miller County; Mitchell County; Pelham City Schools; Baconton Charter School; and no dual-enrollment classes for Colquitt County High School.

Wet March Rolls Back Some Drought In State

A series of rainy days in March has brought the state enough widespread relief to significantly ease drought conditions in Georgia.

State climatologist David Stooksbury says because of an unusually wet month, north Georgia has seen the most benefit, and he’s reclassified conditions in the region:

"Either totally out of the drought, or abnormally dry. The exeption is the Hartwell and Lanier basins in north and east Georgia. Both of those basins are classified as being in moderate drought."

And still, Lanier has rebounded well in only a few months time. From a level of 20 feet below full pool in early-December, the north Georgia reservoir is now only 10 feet under full pool.

Stooksbury says much of south Georgia remains in moderate drought. But, the region within the last week got a heavy dose of rain--the southwest corner especially with 5-7 inches.

As for rivers and streams in Georgia, some flood warnings remain in place, such as for the Ocmulgee, Flint, and Oconee.

And there is more rain forecast for the state starting on Tuesday night.

Rain boosts Lake Lanier

Lake Lanier has benefited from recent rains. The reservoir supplies water to the Atlanta region and has been rising about an inch per hour. That’s according to the National Weather Service.

Despite the lake’s rise by about one foot, officials say it’s still well below its normal winter pool level. They do expect larger gains as the runoff from rains continue to trickle down today.

North Georgia Flood Watch: 3 PM

There is a flood watch for northwest Georgia through 6 o'clock tonight. The flood watch from the National Weather Service spans counties from Haralson to Dade county. Forecasters expect more than 2 inches to fall today in parts of north Georgia, calling it a "soaker situation." For an up-to-date look at weather in your county, you can link to the U. S Weather Radar to the right of this page.

(National Weather Service, Associated Press)

Good news for Lake Hartwell

Rains in December were a big bonus to Lake Hartwell in east Georgia. Its level is up nearly four feet from the recent low. Because of that, the Army Corps of Engineers says it probably won’t have to release any water from Hartwell for at least three weeks to help feed downstream needs. And more good news is ahead--forecasters say at least two storms could positively affect the area around the lake in the next week. Lake Hartwell is shared by both Georgia and South Carolina.

Flood watch through tonight

North Georgia is still recovering from waves of driving rain as the remnants of Tropical Storm Fay rumbled through today. Fay snarled traffic, swelled rivers and brought a much needed drenching to the drought-stricken state. A flood watch is in effect for the northern half of the state through tonight. The National Weather Service says no major flooding has been reported. The drenching has helped Lake Lanier, metro Atlanta's main water supply, surge more than 4 inches in the span of a day.

Needed rain continues to fall in north Georgia

The rain continues to fall in most areas of north Georgia this morning, and that is good news for the region of the state gripped with severe drought conditions. Matt Sena with the National Weather Service in Peachtree City says this multiple-day run of precipitation is significant.

"It's hard to bust a drought with one event but we have the potential to put a pretty big dent in it".

Forecasters say the rain has a good chance to continue well into Wednesday in north Georgia. Most everywhere will get at least an inch of rain, with many areas more than that. Throughout today, a flash flood watch is in effect for north Georgia, as well as west and portions of central Georgia.

Meanwhile, reports from Lake Lanier are positive. The federal reservoir that feeds much of metro Atlanta’s drinking water rose 3 inches in less than 24 hours time.

'Fay' rain might boost north Georgia

Drought-ravaged north Georgia could be in for major relief over the next 24-36 hours.

"It’s hard to bust a drought with one event but we have a potential to put a pretty big dent in it".

Matt Sena of the National Weather Service office in Peachtree City says already this morning, the remnants of tropical storm Fay have paid dividends. 2-3 inches of rain has been recorded at the upper end of the Chattahoochee River Basin--by Lake Lanier.

Sena says the 3-5 inches of rain that could fall across most of north Georgia by Tuesday night would be different than recent summertime patterns for the region.

"During the summer months we’ll see a 3-4 inch rainfall amount out of some of these thunderstorms but it will be a very isolated area so it doesn’t produce a lot of runoff into the mainstream rivers. This type of event gives us a potential to see that over a widespread area which would put a lot of water into our streams and rivers, and hopefully eventually into some of our reservoirs".

Most of north Georgia is under a flash flood watch through Tuesday night.

Fay's rains were heavy in Florida late last week into the weekend, and brought several inches of heavy rain to south Georgia into and through the past weekend as well.

'Fay' leftovers could help north Georgia

North Georgia is expected to get a heavy dose of much-needed rain over the next few days in the wake of tropical storm Fay and its slow move across the southeastern U.S. Some forecasters say up to 10 inches of rain could fall in some areas of north Georgia through Wednesday. There is a flash flood watch that will go in effect later this afternoon for the region. Residents in south Georgia are dealing with the massive amounts of rainfall that began into the past weekend--some areas were said to have received up to 15 inches. There was one Georgia death tied to the storm--a Grady County boy died while playing near a drainage ditch as he was overcome by rushing waters.

UPDATE-'Fay' affect on southern Georgia

Tropical storm warning is in effect through Friday night for Georgia's coast.

Flash flood and flood watches in effect for southeast, south-central and southwest Georgia through Friday night.

Wind advisories are in effect for much of central and southeast Georgia through Saturday night.

Rainfall amounts across south Georgia could reach 10 inches in some areas. Wind gusts this morning have been reported to be hitting the 30 mph range.

School closings for Friday:

- Camden County schools
- Glynn County schools
- McIntosh County schools
- Valdosta city schools
- Benedictine Military School

Fay's outer bands affecting south Georgia

Tropical storm Fay is bringing rain, sometimes heavy, to many portions of south Georgia this morning. Forecasters warn of winds gusting up to 30-40 mph from Fay’s outer bands, as the storm makes its slow trek through north-central Florida into the panhandle. Depending on the area of southern Georgia, rainfall amounts could tally above five inches.

Fay still a threat to Georgia--update

Flooding and high winds are still conditions that could impact coastal Georgia over the next several hours into Friday.

State emergency officials are watching the movement of Tropical storm Fay closely. Ken Davis of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency says they’ve received new estimates on a storm track and possible rainfall.

"By midnight perhaps it might be enough inland and start impacting and providing rain to some of our southern tier of counties...and probably midnight Saturday or so, it might be over by Chattahoochee River. Possible amounts of maybe 4-8 inches of rain along the bottom tier of counties...3-6 maybe a little more inland and isolated areas. And there’s a remote or low possibility of isolated tornadoes as this thing moves inland".

Davis says emergency officials with several southeast Georgia counties were on a GEMA conference call this morning for the latest.

How the storm turns may affect school closures for Friday. Systems in Camden and McIntosh counties were closed today.

'Fay' closes two SE Ga school systems

Schools in Camden and McIntosh counties were closed Thursday, ahead of expected heavy rains and wind in southeast Georgia. Tropical Storm Fay continues to threaten Georgia's entire 100-mile coastline--a flood watch is in effect for counties in southeast Georgia through late Friday. Current predictions are for 3-6 inches of rain. The storm could also bring strong winds, causing localized flooding and power outages. As of Thursday morning, Fay was nearly stationary in the Atlantic off Florida's coast near Daytona. Forecasters expect the storm to eventually move west-northwest during the day.

Tropical Storm Fay update

Officials in southeast Georgia are closely watching Tropical Storm Fay and its movement. As of early Thursday morning the storm was nearly stationary off Florida’s coast near Daytona Beach. A tropical storm warning does extend along the Georgia coast--in addition, there is a flood watch in place for much of the southeast Georgia area through late Friday. The main threat of Fay right now is heavy rainfall and torrential downpours with high wind gusts.

Stay with GPB radio for continuing updates on the storm and its movement. You can also get news updates from our website--gpb.org--and by oing to the Georgia News blog.

Tropical storm could bring Georgia heavy rain

Drought-stricken north Georgia could see a good dose of rain later this week, courtesy of what’s happening now in the Atlantic. Tropical Storm Fay has already hit Cuba, and is setting its sights on the Florida Keys. The storm could get hurricane status later today. Much needed rain for Georgia could arrive later this week. Current projections have the storm moving into south Georgia by the early morning hours of Thursday. The parched area of north Georgia could experience strong rainfall later Thursday into Friday.

Heavy rains flood town

Parts of Claxton, west of Savannah, are cleaning up after being flooded today. Authorities say the town received seven inches of rain in three hours. Police there say at least four houses were flooded after the rain fell early Thursday morning. Some of the town's streets were also flooded and numerous cars stalled out in the high water.

Rains mean less water released from Lanier

Recent rains mean the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can cut back on releasing water from Lake Lanier. The Corps manages the reservoir in North Georgia. A Corps official says rain didn’t boost level at Lake Lanier, but added to water flowing through the lower Chattahoochee and Flint rivers. Water is released from Lanier to feed those rivers.

Much needed rain falls in Georgia

Light, misty rain on the Chattahoochee River near Atlanta, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2007. (Dave Bender)

Upwards of two inches of rain fell across much of the state from Sunday into Monday morning, and the precipitation is expected to continue for much of the day today for most of Georgia. Drought-ravaged north Georgia has been a fortunate receiver of rain as well. Cities such as Athens, Rome, Columbus and Atlanta all have rain in the forecast throughout Monday.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of the drought.