Georgia Governor Orders Water Use Cuts

Atlanta, GA, October 24, 2007—Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue ordered 23 companies and utilities in 61 north Georgia counties, including Gordon, Murray and Whitfield, the counties that serve as the home for the nation’s largest carpet producers, to reduce their water use by 10%. The order sparked concerns of production cuts and layoffs through much of the state.

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division will begin enforcing the new limits November 1, according to EPD director Carol Couch. She noted that fines as high as $75,000 were assessed during the 1980s, the last time such restrictions were imposed.

"In this unprecedented drought, we all have to pitch in and find ways to conserve our most precious resource," Perdue said. "A 10% reduction in water use is a first step, and we will continue to evaluate our drought response and encourage additional conservation as needed."

The new restrictions require industrial permit holders like Shaw Industries and Mohawk Industries as well as water utilities run a number of counties and cities in the state, to withdraw 10% less from than they did last winter.

EPD plans to let utilities decide how much less water their corporate and residential customers will be allowed to use in order to give each utility a 10% total reduction. In a typical home, each person would use eight fewer gallons less per day, Couch said.

Any company or utility that doesn't like the new restrictions (farms are exempt) will have 20 days to contest them with EPD, Couch said.

Perdue is also looking outside the state for help with the drought. He recently sued the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers after the Corps refused to throttle back the water it is releasing from Lake Lanier, Atlanta’s region's primary water source, to protect endangered species in Florida.

In addition, the governor asked President George W. Bush to temporarily exempt Georgia from the Endangered Species Act in order to reduce the amount of water released.

Print the Article