Atlanta's growth stresses water reduction efforts, mayor says
Atlanta Journal & Constitution
November 3, 2007

Atlanta's growth stresses water reduction efforts, mayor says

Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin said Friday the city will try to meet Gov. Sonny Perdue's demand of reducing winter water use by 10 percent — but it won't be easy.

Franklin and city officials unveiled a plan to meet the goal, including:

• $100 rebates to homeowners who install ultra low-flow or dual-flush toilets, which city officials say use one-third as much water as most toilets. Simon Tuohy, project manager for Oakland Park, a new 97-unit condominium development on Memorial Drive, said it costs about $500 to buy and install each dual-flush toilet.

• The most comprehensive audit of the city's largest customers. City officials said some of its largest customers are Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines and Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

Franklin said the city will do its part by repairing water meters and conserving water in city buildings.

But Franklin noted Atlanta is experiencing a large population increase that will require greater demands on its water system. Atlanta's population increased between the years of 2000 and 2006 from 416,474 to 486,411, a 17 percent jump, according to the U.S. Census.

"We're all in the same boat and there's not that much water," Franklin said at a news conference.

Perdue announced his order on Oct. 23. It went into effect Thursday. The reduction is based on what water systems used from December 2006 through March 2007, winter months when demand was low.

City officials said the average water use last winter was 102 million gallons a day. The city has set a goal of 91.5 million gallons a day. Atlanta water consumers used 100 million gallons Thursday, according to data from the city's Watershed Management Department.

Franklin said the city is not considering cuts or a moratorium on residential building permits.

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