Southern Discomfort: Georgia Struggling with Water Crisis
George says it could soon be out of water if other states tap their reservoirs.
Oct. 26, 2007— -- Bush administration officials visited the southeast today in an attempt to settle a years-long fight over rights to water from federal reservoirs in Georgia. They began their day in Atlanta, continued on to Alabama and were on the phone with Florida.
"These discussions have been frank, they've been productive," Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue (R) said.
The region is struggling through a severe drought and Georgia argues that 4 million people could run out of drinking water if their reservoirs continue to send water out of state. The governors of the three southern states will travel to Washington, D.C., next week in hopes of hammering out a temporary agreement.
Alabama Gov. Bob Riley (R) is not making the talks easy. He's asked President Bush to say no to any requests that would give Georgia more control of its lakes that send water downstream.
None of the officials visiting the region today would speak clearly about what they will do when and if Atlanta runs out of water.
John Copenhaver, a disaster recovery specialist, said that's because every idea is incredibly expensive.
"They're going to be buying bottled water, trucking in water and finding a way to distribute it to residents who need it, they're going to have to buy water they can use for emergencies, for fighting fires and for hospitals," Copenhaver said.
Even then there would still be water shortages in the region. Georgia would have to ask states outside the drought region for water. Saltwater from Georgia's Atlantic coast would be hauled in and desalinated. Wastewater would have to be treated and reused.
One plan calls for building lower intake pipes that draw drinking water from the lakes and rivers that are drying up. The lower pipes would better reach the water that remains.
"Each one of [the plans] has a draw back to it, each one of them has environmental consequences each one of them has water quality consequences," Gerald Galloway, president of The American Water Resources Association said.
The water that will run from faucets and showers as a result of lowered pipes will not be pretty. Officials expect it to have color and smell, and it could still be three months away from flowing.
