Atlanta Water Shortage

Last week I received an email from Bruce Whitehouse, Fire Chief for Corona de Tucson Fire District in Vail, AZ he wrote asking me about the water shortages. I responded to his email and we have had correspondence since. I thought it was a good question and was surprised that someone out in Arizona would be concerned and ask about it so I figured it was blog-worthy material...

Officials in Atlanta are warning residents to conserve water. Recent reports show that if the drought continues at the current rate, Lake Lanier has been reduced to a level that can serve the area for three to four months. Lake Lanier provides water for one-third of the residents of Georgia, not to mention the many communities dependent on Lake Lanier for power. That translates to more than 3 million metro Atlantans who will be unable to take showers, flush their toilets, and cook. Power plants will be unable to make enough steam necessary to generate electricity.

The commissioner of Atlanta's Department of Watershed Management, Robert J. Hunter, says the city is not running out of water but he and other officials urged conservation.

"We've never experienced this situation before," state Environmental Protection Division Director Carol Couch said of the record-breaking drought and fast-falling lake.

Hmmm...has Katrina already been forgotten? Shouldn't there be more concern? When I first moved to Atlanta it didn't take long to realize that the city had poor infrastructure identified by the horrendous traffic, but I had no idea it lacked in water too! Don't get me wrong...Atlanta is a great city and I love it...that's why I moved, but how long before changes are made to plan for the future?

My father who lives in the suburbs of Chicago sent me an email asking what Atlanta was doing to combat this crisis...apparently the story has made national news.

The water shortage could potentially be dramatic, however it isn't to that point yet and therefore it would be premature to comment on its true effect. At the same time, I believe there should be concern and I am curious to hear what other's thoughts are. Please...respond with your thoughts regarding the situation.

To read more about the shortage I have provided hyperlinks below for articles related to the topic:

Atlanta Water Shortage

Lake Lenier has three months of water storage left