Who’s Doing What and Where Do We Go From Here?

1. Water Conservation in Georgia Who’s Doing What and Where Do We Go From Here?

2. “The beginning is the most important part of the work.” - Plato

3. What is Water Conservation? • …efficient use of water, through … lessening of water withdrawals, water use or water waste. • Conservation can forestall future supply capital … • It can consist of both temporary measures … and permanent measures …. American Water Works Association (AWWA) Drinking Water Dictionary, 1st Edition

4. Why is it Important to Conserve Water? • Increasing number of people, same amount of water • Conserving water can delay capital expenditures • Conserved water is an additional supply • Conserved water is good for the environment • Future generations quality of life

5. Why Pursue Water Conservation? • 100% + increase in state pop since ’60 • 15 mgd “new” water supply for each 100K new residents • 8-9 mgd “new” wastewater capacity for each 100K new residents

6. Ten Key Steps to Planning a Successful Water Conservation Program* • Identify conservation goals • Develop a water-use profile and forecast • Evaluate planned facilities • Identify and evaluate conservation measures • Identify and assess conservation incentives • Analyze benefits and costs • Select conservation measures and incentives • Prepare and implement the conservation plan • Integrate conservation and supply plans, modify forecasts • Monitor, evaluate and revise program as needed *Handbook of Water Use and Conservation, Amy Vickers, 2001, pages 2 and 3

7. “It is one thing to find fault with an existing system. It is another thing altogether, a more difficult task, to replace it with an approach that is better.” - Nelson Mandela

8. Who’s Doing What?

9. State Level Water Conservation Efforts • DNR Board Water Issues White Paper • DNR Water Conservation and Regional Reservoir Plan • State Drought Management Plan • P2AD Technical Assistance to Businesses & Institutions • P2AD Water Conservation Workshops

10. State Level Water Conservation Efforts (cont) • DCA Water First Initiative and Keep Georgia Beautiful education efforts • The State of Georgia – Water Conservation Coordinator position • DNR (EPD) requires water conservation plans in applications for non-farm water withdrawal permits • The DNR (CRD) Coastal Incentive grants

11. Regional & Local Water Conservation Efforts • MNGWPD producing a Water Supply and Conservation Management Plan • Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority WaterSmart Project • Dalton Utilities has implemented an aggressive water conservation rate structure • SW Georgia Agricultural Community

12. NGO Water Conservation Efforts • Georgia Water Wise Council • The Georgia Conservancy • Georgia Wildlife Federation • Upper Chattahoochee RiverKeeper • The Georgia Poultry Federation • GW&PCA – conservation and reuse committee • Georgia Water Coalition

13. University Water Conservation Efforts • Tifton Ag. Experiment Station • UGA Extension – Xeriscape • UGA College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences • River Basin Science and Policy Center – Athens, GA

14. Where Do We Go From Here?

15. Develop/Implement Water Conservation Action Plan • Evaluate Current Planning Efforts • Set Goals (state & regional) • Conduct Statewide Water Conservation Awareness Campaign • Choose Appropriate Conservation Measures • Use EPD Permitting Authority to Implement Plan • Work With Governmental, NGO’s, and University System to Implement Action Plan

16. How Do I Find Guidelines from EPD to Help Me Put Together and Implement a Water Conservation Plan?

17. Navigator Menu TABLE OF CONTENTSGEORGIA'SENVIRONMENT INTERSTATE WATERPLANS RULES & LAWS PLANS OUTREACH REGULATEDCOMMUNITY EPD FORMS TECHNICALGUIDANCE ENFORCEMENT ABOUT EPD WHAT'S NEW(S) EVENT CALENDAR PRIVACY STATEMENT COMMENTS SEARCH The EPD website can be found at: http://www.dnr.state.ga.us/dnr/environ/ You will see a green side bar similar to the one on the left of this slide. Click on Technical Guidance to find the EPD Water Conservation Guidelines with Commentary, and click on EPD Forms to find water conservation plan guidance as needed for surface water withdrawals for industrial new, industrial renewal, municipal new, municipal renewal, recreational turn new and recreational turf renewal. For groundwater guidance, contact Bill Frechette at EPD (404) 656-3094

18. EPD Water Conservation Guidelines • Water Resources Allocation and Planning • Planning Standards North Georgia Water District [Revised Dec 2001] • Water Conservation Guidance [Revised Aug 2001] • Linking State Water Programs to Watershed Management (Note: this file should be downloaded rather than viewed) [Revised Jul 2001] • Developing Regional Watershed Protection Plans - A Guidebook for Local Governments (Note: these files should be downloaded rather than viewed) [Revised Jul 2001] • Appendix A: Alcovy River Watershed Protection Project • Appendix B: Description of Commonly Considered Water Quality Constituents • Appendix C: Watershed Protection Fact Sheets (20.2 MB, PKZip format) • Interim Strategy for Managing Saltwater Intrusion in the Upper Florida Aquifer of Southeast Georgia [Revised Apr 1997] • Supplement to the Interim Strategy for Managing Saltwater Intrusion in the Upper Floridan Aquifer of Southeast Georgia [Revised Dec 2001] • Water Management Plan for Coastal Strategy Area [Revised Feb 2002] • Offsite Links • USGS Water Resources Information for Georgia • Glossary of Water Related Terms • Kevin Farrell • 404.656.3094 http://www.dnr.state.ga.us/dnr/environ/

19. Surface Water Withdrawal Forms and Guidelines • Water Allocation/WithdrawalAde Oke 404.656.3094 • Agricultural Withdrawal Application [Revised Aug 2001] • Agricultural Withdrawal Application (Word format) [Revised Aug 2001] • Offsite Link: Agricultural Withdrawal Application County Maps • Industrial Surface Water Withdrawal New Application [Revised Oct 1998] • Industrial Surface Water Withdrawal New Application (Word Perfect format) [Revised Oct 1998] • Industrial Surface Water Withdrawal Renewal Application [Revised Jan 2000] • Industrial Surface Water Withdrawal Renewal Application (Word format) [Revised Jan 2000] • Municipal Surface Water Withdrawal New Application [Revised Dec 1999] • Municipal Surface Water Withdrawal New Application (Word format) [Revised Dec 1999] • Municipal Surface Water Withdrawal Renewal Application [Revised Dec 1999] • Municipal Surface Water Withdrawal Renewal Application (Word format) [Revised Dec 1999] • Recreational Turf Surface Water Withdrawal New Application [Revised Aug 2001] • Recreational Turf Surface Water Withdrawal New Application (Word format) [Revised Aug 2001] • Recreational Turf Surface Water Withdrawal Renewal Application [Revised Aug 2001] • Recreational Turf Surface Water Withdrawal Renewal Application (Word Perfect format) [Revised Aug 2001] • Industrial Water Use Report [Revised Jan 2000] • Industrial Water Use Report (Word format) [Revised Jan 2000] • Municipal Water Use Report [Revised Jan 2000] • Municipal Water Use Report (Word format) [Revised Jan 2000] • Online Data Entry for Drought-Related Water Withdrawals [Revised Jun 2000] http://www.dnr.state.ga.us/dnr/environ/

20. Current Water Conservation Planning Efforts in Georgia

21. Water Conservation Elements of Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District (16 counties): Code Section 12-5-572(c) It is the primary purpose of the district to develop regional and watershed-specific plans for storm-water management, waste-water treatment, water supply, water conservation, and the general protection of water quality, which plans will be implemented by local governments in the district.

22. Water Conservation Elements of the Joint Comprehensive Water Plan Study Committee: Recommendation 13: Provide in the enabling legislation for the inclusion of goals for Georgia’s water management programs in the plan. part 4: Georgia’s water management programs allocate water and encourage efficient water use. section d: Conservation, efficiency and water reuse are encouraged while considering the impacts of consumptive use and return flows on other water users and the environment. and section f: Conservation and efficiency are achieved through using appropriate incentives and regulatory requirements. http://www.cviog.uga.edu/water/index.html

23. Water Conservation Elements of the Water Conservation and Regional Reservoir Plan (44 counties): • The DSS Model (used in the District Plan) will enable evaluation of the water conservation potential of individual utility systems in the project area • Review existing water demand data • Develop sampling protocol for project area • Establish baseline water demands • Define menu of water conservation strategies • Evaluate water conservation scenarios • Conduct sensitivity analysis

24. Water Conservation Elements of the State Drought Management Plan: Includes: • State providing notice of drought conditions (levels) by region • Appropriate minimum implementation requirements (actions), at each pre-drought and drought level stage (pre/into/in/out of) • Four levels of drought for purposes of planning and responses

25. Funding Available Through GEFA/Revolving Funds: The Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority is a state agency that makes low interest rate loans to cities, counties and authorities for water, sewer and solid waste system improvements. According to the U.S. EPA, The Clean Water State Revolving Fund resources (managed in Georgia by GEFA) can help augment the financial resources currently available to fund the following types of water conservation and reuse projects: Structural Measures (eligible when the equipment or facility is publicly-owned): installation of meters, plumbing retrofits (in government buildings), efficient irrigation equipment (public parks, golf courses), reuse of gray water (public purposes), reducing unnaccounted for water Nonstructural Measures: use of incentive-based wastewater service charges, use of ordinances or regulations to conserve water, public education programs www.gefa.org

26. “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” - Mohandas Gandhi