Where is Georgia’s leadership? It is Time to Act

Where is Georgia’s leadership? It is Time to Act

The Georgia draught is extremely critical. We are facing a water shortage unprecedented in our modern history. With each passing day our reservoirs diminish. It is estimated that metro Atlanta’s primary water reservoir has a 110 days supply – less than 4 months. Lake Allatoona may be dry by this winter. Weather is totally unpredictable. But with the current long range forecasts calling for a dryer than normal winter (the rainy season), every action should be taken to preserve the water we have. Where is our leadership?

Once the water is gone you can not get it back. Immediate action is required to conserve our water. The outside watering ban is not enough. Outside watering accounts for 20% of total residential consumption. To date we have done nothing to encourage, promote or even require indoor residential usage.

The following immediate steps should be taken:
• The State should prepare an action plan for residential users. This plan should identify actions that we can take to conserve water. We are not accustomed to this type of conservation measures. You have our attention. Now tell us what we can do.
• The media should bombard the marketplace with this action list. Make every consumer aware of the situation and the action they should take. This will take time and in some cases money. Time is the one thing we can not control.
• The next step is the most politically sensitive. Let the market help solve this issue. Water prices remain low (because they are regulated) while the demand is high and the supply is low. Temporarily, raise the cost of water on a graduated basis. Steps should be taken to protect the poor, but the price should be driven by supply and demand. This will get the attention of every citizen. Use the excess charges to fund water conservation measures.
• If step3 is too politically charged, the state should use its funds to subsidize water conservation measures. This is potentially unprecedented economic disaster for the region if not a life threatening crisis.
• Part of this problem is man made. The Corp of Engineers continues to use an outdated formula to control the water flow out of Georgia’s lake. It values the sturgeon and mussels of Florida more than the citizens of Georgia. Since they have proven that they can not react in a timely matter to a grave issue the Governor must step in. Governor Perdue should consider calling in the National Guard to take control of the state’s waterways. While this will cause an enormous constitutional crisis, it will break the log jam created by the federal government, specifically the Corp of Engineers. Remember – we have a 110 day supply. Every day the supply drops and the situation grows more critical.

It is time for Georgia’s leadership to lead. We must manage our way through this potential crisis. Tell the citizens what they can do. Provide assistance if necessary. Take control of our waterways.

Today, the draught is a major nuisance. Tomorrow it could be a catastrophe. The consequences of north Georgia and metropolitan Atlanta running out of water would be an unprecedented disaster which will have dire long term consequences for the every citizen of the state and region. It is time to lead.