June 2nd, 2008 1:03pm PST
Current Water Restrictions
Posted By Brant D. Keller
The Southeast region is heading into the continuation of the drought of 2007. Actually, Georgia has been in a drought cycle since 2000. Georgia has had 55 counties under extreme drought watch—drought level four—since the fall of 2007, and just weeks ago six counties were relieved to be classified to drought level two.
The effect has been devastating to local utilities. The City of Griffin, a medium-sized water system, forecasted a revenue loss of $750,000.00. Cobb County Water System cut $30 million in capital improvements. Gwinnett County Water System curtailed millions of dollars in capital projects, all due to the loss of sales revenue.
What this means is that replacement of meters in some systems will be put off, and water lines will not be rehab’d or replaced. All of this equates to additional water loss and less conservation of the resource. Loss of revenue has forced managers to allocate funds from operations and maintenance to pay back bond debt.
However, out of adversity comes strength. The drought has brought water efficiency to a new level in Georgia, along with a new awareness of the importance of water conservation. New management tools have been created or are being created to manage evaporation levels. New prediction models are being created. The drought in Georgia has reinforced the need for the State Water Plan. Moreover, more people have realized that water is truly a finite resource. Words like “consumptive use” and “sustainable yield” are becoming the vocabulary for many in the water profession.
Water, and its price to produce and distribute, may be changed forever.
June 2nd, 2008 1:03pm PST
Current Water Restrictions
Posted By Brant D. Keller
The Southeast region is heading into the continuation of the drought of 2007. Actually, Georgia has been in a drought cycle since 2000. Georgia has had 55 counties under extreme drought watch—drought level four—since the fall of 2007, and just weeks ago six counties were relieved to be classified to drought level two.
The effect has been devastating to local utilities. The City of Griffin, a medium-sized water system, forecasted a revenue loss of $750,000.00. Cobb County Water System cut $30 million in capital improvements. Gwinnett County Water System curtailed millions of dollars in capital projects, all due to the loss of sales revenue.
What this means is that replacement of meters in some systems will be put off, and water lines will not be rehab’d or replaced. All of this equates to additional water loss and less conservation of the resource. Loss of revenue has forced managers to allocate funds from operations and maintenance to pay back bond debt.
However, out of adversity comes strength. The drought has brought water efficiency to a new level in Georgia, along with a new awareness of the importance of water conservation. New management tools have been created or are being created to manage evaporation levels. New prediction models are being created. The drought in Georgia has reinforced the need for the State Water Plan. Moreover, more people have realized that water is truly a finite resource. Words like “consumptive use” and “sustainable yield” are becoming the vocabulary for many in the water profession.
Water, and its price to produce and distribute, may be changed forever.