The Georgia Environmental Protection Division has issued guidelines on how state permit holders will be asked to reduce their water use by 10 percent.
The governor ordered the reduction in a news release Tuesday. The following is a Q&A issued by the EPD:
1. What does the Governor’s new direction mean?
In further response to the exceptional drought conditions, Governor Sonny Perdue has directed the Environmental Protection Division to modify current surface water and groundwater withdrawal and drinking water permits to achieve a 10 percent reduction in water withdrawals/production in the Level 4 counties.
Permit holders will be required to reduce water withdrawals/ production by 10 percent compared to water withdrawal/production during last winter (i.e. baseline - December 2006 through March 2007).
2. What/who is a “permit holder”?
A permit holder is a city, county, authority, industry, private business, and/or individual who holds a surface water withdrawal permit, a groundwater withdrawal permit, and/or a drinking water operating permit issued by EPD. These new measures do not apply to farm permit holders.
3. My city/county/industry/household has already invested in infrastructure and/or water conservation measures. Why do I need to do more when others have done so much less?
We are currently in an exceptional drought. In addition, the forecast is for a warm, dry winter that may not provide replenishing rains. Therefore, Governor Perdue has ordered that a state of emergency exists in much of Georgia. It is important for all permit holders in the Level 4 counties to participate in conserving our remaining water resources.
4. How will this be implemented?
This week, EPD will modify all existing permits. This reduction requirement will become effective starting on November 1, 2007.
5. How is the baseline monthly average calculated?
Existing permits require reporting of the monthly average water withdrawal / production for each calendar month. This calculated baseline is the average of the four monthly averages from December 2006 to March 2007, inclusive. All permit holders are encouraged to calculate their baseline to know their new withdrawal / production limit.
6. What if my flows between December 2006 and March 2007 were abnormally low or zero? What if I have a new permit and was not in operation during that period? What if a new high water use industry has come to town in recent months? What if firefighting water needs cause the 10% reduction requirement to not be met?
EPD will work with individual permit holders on a case-by-case basis to resolve issues such as these.
7. How will this be enforced?
Compliance with this 10% reduction will become a permit condition. Failure to achieve this reduction will be a permit violation subject to fines and other penalties. For enforcement purposes, EPD will be checking reported water withdrawal/production amounts monthly against the new baseline requirement.
8. What are some ideas for achieving this 10% reduction?
For utilities: Reduce unaccounted for water, survey distribution system for leaks, meter all sources and service connections, provide water conservation education to customers, target specific reductions, raise water rates for high water users, provide incentives for installation of water saving fixtures. For businesses: Apartment complexes should consider metering each unit. Restaurants can use paper and plastic plates and utensils to cut down on dishwashing. Hotels and motels could reduce laundering of towels and sheets whenever possible. Low water-use, office-based businesses can save water by reducing flushing, repairing leaks, etc. Businesses that use water in manufacturing or processing should conduct water audits to identify leaks and inefficiencies. Additional information on water audits can be found at http://www.gadnr.org/cws/. For households: Indoor water used can be reduced by washing only full loads of dishes and laundry, taking a shorter shower, and by fixing leaky faucets and toilets. Additional water conserving tips and resources can be found at www.ConserveWaterGeorgia.net
9. Why is this the responsibility of permit holders?
By placing the responsibility for reductions on permit holders, local utility leaders can determine the amount and balance of impacts on residential, industrial, and commercial customers. Since the customer base and opportunities vary in each local area, this approach allows local options and control to develop an approach most appropriate to specific local situations.
10. What other methods are being implemented to conserve water?
In addition to implementing the Level 4 outdoor water use schedule and modifying permits to reduce water use, the State and local water providers are undertaking additional efforts to minimize the impacts of this exceptional drought. These efforts include: developing a water conservation public outreach plan, implementation of the waterSmart public education program, permitting additional groundwater wells, where appropriate, identifying additional interconnections between water systems to provide reliability, and identifying additional sources of water.
11. How long is the 10% reduction requirement in effect?
The requirement is in effect until further notice to permit holders by EPD.
12. What if a permit holder does not have the needed historical data available to calculate their new baseline requirement?
A permit holder should contact the EPD Program that issued their permit for this information.
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