By Joe Cook

PRESS RELEASE — Metro Atlanta wouldn’t or couldn’t do it themselves, so a group of downstream senators have now introduced a bill that will force the region to implement aggressive water conservation measures.

Worried that a failure on the part of metro Atlanta to conserve water will leave downstream communities high and dry, Sen. Seth Harp (R-Columbus) and others introduced SB 575 last week. This bill would require water suppliers and local governments within metro Atlanta to replace old, water-wasting plumbing fixtures when private homes and businesses are sold.

The Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District (District) which is charged with managing the water resources of a 16-county Atlanta area failed to introduce and pass similar measures during the 2004 and 2005 legislative sessions because of vocal opposition from real estate brokers. Earlier this month, the board voted to abandon further pursuit of so-called “retrofit on resale” legislation, instead opting to allow local governments to develop alternative plans.

Replacing old plumbing fixtures on Atlanta homes built before 1993, would save 71 million gallons a day by 2030, according to the District’s evaluation of water conservation measures. The District identified mandatory retrofit on resale legislation as the most cost-effective means of realizing these water savings.

“For Metro Atlanta to abandon one of its best options for saving water because realtors pitched a fit speaks volumes about the region’s priorities,” said Joe Cook, Executive Director and Riverkeeper with the Coosa River Basin Initiative. “Lets make a buck now, and pass the consequences on to future Atlantans and downstream communities. If Atlanta fails to conserve water, we all suffer—especially those of us downstream.”

Unlike previous legislative proposals which required private citizens to foot the bill for water saving plumbing fixtures, Sen. Harp’s bill requires local governments and water suppliers to pay for the retrofits when property changes hands. The cost of this program is covered by surcharges levied on the water bills of the new property owner. However, the owner subsequently realizes savings on his water bill because of the water saving fixtures.

And, the bill requires this program to be in place only if the local government or water supplier has petitioned the state to increase its water withdrawal permit.

“The bill is not as aggressive as the original legislation, but it is more palatable to the real estate interests and property owners,” said Cook. “And, it holds Metro Atlanta’s feet to the flame. It tells them if you want more water from our rivers prove to us that you’re serious about water conservation.”

From the Coosa River Basin, Sen. Don Thomas, Sen. Bill Heath, and Sen. Chip Pearson signed on as sponsors of bill.

The Coosa River Basin currently loses 25 million gallons of water a day to Metro Atlanta through a project that takes water from the Etowah and pumps it to water users in the Chattahoochee River Basin. By 2030, that water transfer is expected to grow to 70 million gallons daily.

“This water transfer means there will be less water in the Etowah which means the river will be more polluted and there will be less water for prosperity in downstream communities like Cartersville and Rome in Georgia and Centre and Gadsden in Alabama,” Cook said. “Having clean and abundant water up here is contingent upon what Metro Atlanta does down there.”

CRBI on the Web: www.coosa.org