Georgia’s Water Plan

June 17, 2008

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Agenda

Plan Development

Plan Overview

Plan Development

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Backdrop & Drivers

Dramatic expansion in population and economy– 4.6 million in 1970

2nd fastest ‘total employment’ growth among states in southeast between ’80 & ‘93

– 6.3 million in 1990 ~ 100,000 new jobs per year in 90’s

– 9.4 million in 2006

Droughts (’81, ’86 – ’88, ’98 – ’02, ’06 - ?)

Interstate water disputesIntrastate water concernsGrowing stresses on water supplies and water quality

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Legislative Direction

2004 Comprehensive Statewide Water Management Planning Act– Created the Water Council for planning

oversight

– Assigned EPD responsibility for preparation of draft plan (with Water Council oversight)

– Established guiding policy for water planning

– Set schedule for completion of Water Plan

– Mandated extensive public involvement

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Vision Statement For Water Plan

“Georgia manages water resources in a sustainable manner to support the state’s economy, to protect public health and natural systems, and to enhance the quality of life for all citizens.”

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Purpose of Plan

Within framework of existing laws, provide a guide for the sustainable management of water resources by:– Supporting Georgia’s Economy;

– Protecting Natural Systems &

– Public Health; and

– Enhancing Citizens’ Quality of Life

Art by: Brittany ThomasGeorgia Winner

2005 River of Words

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Plan Development Schedule

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Public Involvement

Technical Advisory Committees: – 4 TACs, 45 members, 10 meetings

Basin Advisory Committees: – 7 BACs, 187 members, 42 meetings

Statewide Advisory Committee:– 32 members, 9 meetings

Town Hall Meetings: – 22 meetings

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Plan Summary

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Organization of the Document

Introduction to Statewide Water Planning

Overview – Georgia’s Water Resources

Comprehensive Statewide Water Management Plan***

Implementation of Regional Water Planning

Acknowledgements

***Section submitted to legislature

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Major Aspects of Plan

Water Policies– Integrated Water Policy

– Water Quantity Policy

– Water Quality Policy

Resource Assessments

Management Practices– Water Quantity

– Water Quality

Regional Planning– Demand Forecasts

– Water Development & Conservation Plans

Art by: Megan MallerGeorgia Winner

2006 River of Words

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Integrated Water Policy

Links future water quality management decisions with water quantity management decisions

Where appropriate, links surface water management deliberations and groundwater management deliberations;

Links water withdrawal decisions with water return decisions;

Accomplishes this linking through existing authority for permitting water withdrawals, drinking water, and water discharges, and erosion and sediment control authority.

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Water Quantity Policy

Manage Georgia’s waters in manner that recognizes the values and opportunities provided by surface and groundwater historic flow patterns

Manage consumptive uses of Georgia waters so that opportunities associated with these historic flow patterns continue to be available to Georgians of the future

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Water Quality Policy

Protect and preserve the quality of Georgia’s waters through watershed-based management of both point and non-point sources of pollution

Restore impaired waters through use of watershed-based management tools

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Water Resource Assessments

The Plan proposes that the State determine capacities of various water resources – around the state - to support additional water consumption, and to assimilate additional pollutants.

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Water Quantity Assessments

Using scientifically valid data and information, determine historic flows available within specific water sources to support human needs and the needs of natural systems.

From these assessments, determine the quantities of water available to sustainably support human uses (‘consumptive use assessments’).

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Water Quality Assessments

Using scientifically valid data and information, determine the extent to which specific current surface water systems can accommodate the introduction of additional quantities of pollutants without violating established water quality standards for that resource.

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Management Practices

The Plan identifies some current and some new management tools that could be employed to help ensure continued sustainable use of Georgia’s waters.

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Water Quantity Management Practices

Manage consumptive use of water through selection of a mix of management actions from the following categories:– Demand Management Practices

– Supply Management Practices

– Return Management Practices

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Selected Demand Management Practices

Water Conservation activities– Conservation rate

structures

– Water loss control programs

– Outdoor water use schedules

Water reuse activities

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Selected Supply Management Practices

Interbasin and/or Intrabasin Transfers– In compliance resource

assessments, and in conformance with WDCPs and rigorous set of requirements

Surface Water Storage– Based upon rationale

demand forecasts; full investigation of options; site selection to minimize environmental impacts, etc

ASR & Desalination– Regional investigation of

these options

D.Shaw -TNC

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Selected Returns Management Practices

Centralized Treatment & Discharge of Water

On-Site Sewage Treatment & LAS– Assessment of return

rates

– Assessment of locations of returns

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Water Quality Management Practices

Management actions and activities that control the extent to which we call upon Georgia’s waters to assimilate additional quantities of pollutants.

Arrays of actions that are technically effective and economically feasible management practices that prevent some percentage of these pollutants entering our streams.

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Selected Water Quality Management Practices

Continue Point Source Management Successes

Enhance Standards– Bacteria

– Dissolved Oxygen

Non-Point Source Management– Improved stormwater mgmt

compliance

– Coordinated environmental planning & land use management programs

Explore New Tools– Pollutant allocation trading

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