Water Shortage...Are we REALLY running out? (Atlanta, Smyrna: houses, condos)

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by normie

Since droughts are a recurrent problem all over the world, why don't we make it a priority to figure out how to synthesize more water?

I'm not trying to be a smart-#ss, I'm genuinely curious.

They could HELP solve the problem if they built some desalination plants along the coastal areas and pumped water into Atlanta. The process of desalination is expensive, and it doesn't crank out an excessive amount of water, but, it would help with the problem. Of course, it all boils down to money.

Let's put it this way - every year we see huge forest fires on TV out West, burning down hundreds of homes. Yet to this day, we do not have a "Federal Fire Force" in place that goes into action to fight them. Instead, each state sends out small forces. So, we live in a country where stuff like that isn't a priority. We live in a state where the Governor won't even put a dime into public transit. So the chances of the Feds giving us money, or the Governor spending millions, on desalination plants are ... you guessed it... zero. Good things to remember on all levels next time ya vote.

[happymom4]

Originally Posted by atlantagreg30127

Fine fine that's what I MEANT.. I was hoping people realized that. LOL

Well sometimes you have to draw people a picture...that's why products come with obvious instructions,lol.

[normie]

The time to comment on the state-wide water management plan is now through Oct. 30.

Governor Sonny Perdue created the Georgia Water Council in 2004 to provide input to Georgia Environmental Protection Division and recommend a plan to the 2008 General Assembly on how to manage the state's water resources.

I'm not sure where the Atlanta meetings will be held. If you are in N. GA, The Georgia Water Council will present a revised draft state-wide water management plan Oct. 16 at Gainesville State College in the Continuing Education Auditorium, 3820 Mundy Mill Road in Oakwood beginning at 6 p.m.

[irvm]

Originally Posted by crystalblue

De-sal is prob the best option, but I don't know how you'd get the water to Atlanta. Prob have to build the plant maybe in NC or SC and let it drain to Atlanta?

er... I took geography back in the stone age, so maybe things have changed since then,
but last I heard, the ocean is generally around sea level, and Atlanta is about 1000 ft above sea level.

I don't think 'down' on the map counts.

[crystalblue]

Originally Posted by irvm

er... I took geography back in the stone age, so maybe things have changed since then,
but last I heard, the ocean is generally around sea level, and Atlanta is about 1000 ft above sea level.

I don't think 'down' on the map counts.

I agree

but I would think it MIGHT be easier than from the GA coast. Could be wrong.

Never heard of them pumping water that far inland and up b4.

[gt6974a]

Originally Posted by tdatl

i'd swear i read a couple of years ago in the AJC that one was in development somewhere in the northwest part of the metro -- somewhere around Cobb/Bartow/Cherokee? anyone know anything about that?

i was watching the ABC national news a few days where they showed overheard shots of Alatoona and Lanier. It was astonishing how low they were -- didn't even look like lakes anymore.

They drain Allatoona every Fall so that's no suprise, some areas of the lake go completely dry during this time, not b/c of drought, they're just shallow. If you drive 92 over the lake, it's bare in this time of the year. If you haven't been here long you'd probably be shocked.

[gt6974a]

Originally Posted by normie

"Well, here in Atlanta, they've been predicting this for years. The Corps need to build another lake."

Interesting idea. Any thoughts on where a good location would be? If a lake is going to be built nearby, that's one good place to buy real estate!

you'd want to stay above the Fall Line so I'd say just SouthWest of Calhoun off of the Oostanaula River.

Oostanaula River - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

you can see the map on the right.

Note that the Etowah flows into Allatoona and the Coosawatee flows into Carters Lake. So you could put another damn down from Carters after the Coosawatee merges with the Conasauga to form the Oostanaula.

I'm not a topography expert or very familiar with that exact area but I know it's not densly populated, it is above the fall line, added barrier for flood control that Carters and Allatoona were already built for, and close enough to Metro Atlanta!

[normie]

Have they been discussing serious plans for another reservoir? I wonder how big Lake Oostanaula would be if they were to create it?

If nothing else, I like the name... you can say "asta la vista" to the drought by building "oosta na ula."

[CabinFever]

Originally Posted by SaraSatin

Recycling water in your house will help too. My mother was upset with the water ban because it came right after she paid to have her house landscaped (after buying it almost 2 years ago). She took a bath instead of a shower (which used less water probably) and then filled a bucket with the water when she was done and poured it over the flowers. I don't know if it will work because the soap might kill them, but I don't think it does so her flowers should live.

I don't think the soap will hurt the plants.I've seen a show on PBS,Ithink,that showed using many household detergents that were good for plants.

[PeteyNice]

Originally Posted by atlantagreg30127

They could HELP solve the problem if they built some desalination plants along the coastal areas and pumped water into Atlanta. The process of desalination is expensive, and it doesn't crank out an excessive amount of water, but, it would help with the problem. Of course, it all boils down to money.

Let's put it this way - every year we see huge forest fires on TV out West, burning down hundreds of homes. Yet to this day, we do not have a "Federal Fire Force" in place that goes into action to fight them. Instead, each state sends out small forces. So, we live in a country where stuff like that isn't a priority. We live in a state where the Governor won't even put a dime into public transit. So the chances of the Feds giving us money, or the Governor spending millions, on desalination plants are ... you guessed it... zero. Good things to remember on all levels next time ya vote.

Desalination is prohibitively expensive. It only works in places like Saudi Arabia where water costs more than oil. It would create a whole new problem - ginormous water bills.

I am not sure what the solution is but desalination is not it. Forcing new construction to implement efficient water technology would be a start but since this state is owned and operated by developers that will never happen.