Title:
Meeting water supply needs while protecting the economic and ecological integrity of Georgia’s water resources
Meeting water supply needs while protecting the economic and ecological integrity of Georgia’s water resources
Author(s)
Schmitt, Mandy
Miller Keyes, Alice
Walters, Jessica
Miller Keyes, Alice
Walters, Jessica
Advisor(s)
Editor(s)
Hatcher, Kathryn J.
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Abstract
Water supply and its distribution are of
increasing concern in Georgia. Aggressive water
conservation programs offer an alternative source of
water and a means to protect environmental needs.
Georgia must take action to improve water use
efficiency in all sectors of society. This requires
efficient and effective policy development and
administration. Comprehensive statewide water
conservation planning and implementation has the
potential to improve water quality and instream flow
levels, decrease the need for new capital investments,
reduce vulnerability to drought, and provide other
benefits to the people and ecosystems of Georgia.
Several states have effectively implemented
statewide water conservation planning. Thus, we have
analyzed the elements of several state programs to
determine what characteristics are instrumental in
getting results from conservation. As Georgia rises to
meet the challenges of water supply planning, we must
create a comprehensive water supply and conservation
plan that provides for (1) acceptance of the need for
aggressive water conservation by political leaders, (2) a
detailed water conservation policy, (3) comprehensive
monitoring of water use and instream water levels, (4)
stable funding sources for water conservation
initiatives, (5) technical assistance, (6) strong
educational and media outreach, (7) sufficient staff to
implement the statewide plan, and (8) stakeholder
involvement in the planning and implementation
process. Georgia has the opportunity to become the
leader of comprehensive water supply planning in the
Southeast by making water conservation an alternative
water supply source. To be successful, however, we
must embrace all eight conditions discussed herein.
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Date Issued
2003-04
Extent
Resource Type
Text
Resource Subtype
Proceedings