Georgia Water/Water Policy/Issues/Background

Chapter 2. Water Resources Policy in Georgia


 * 2.5.1. Background -- Identifying the Issues

1999 - ACCG/GMA Joint Task Force on Water Resource Policy

 * The Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) and the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) published their ACCG-GMA Joint Task Force on Water Resource Policy report, | Georgia Water Resource Policy - A Call for Action] in December, 1999. The report listed four key needs to:
 * Clearly state a comprehensive water management strategy,
 * Refine Georgia's water allocation policies,
 * Encourage multi-jurisdictional water management on a regional/watershed basis,
 * Coordinate water and land use planning and management.

2001 - Georgia Board of Natural Resources

 * The Georgia Board of Natural Resources prepared the | Water Issues White Paper(May, 2001) which provided a summary of current water law in Georgia and "identified fifteen specific water issues and solutions which are recommended for consideration by the Joint Study Comittee for inclusion in the Comprehensive Water Plan."
 * Interbasin water transfers
 * Allocation of state water to private entities for resale
 * Improve allocation of water for agricultural use
 * Statewide water conservation
 * Interim instream flow protection strategy
 * Priorities for water use during drought
 * Privately owned public water systems
 * Assure a reliable and adequate water supply in growth areas with water supply reservoirs
 * Real-time water management
 * Water quality monitoring
 * Attain water quality standards
 * Assure wastewater capacity in growth areas
 * Develop and implement erosion and sedimentation control improvements
 * Public information and involvement
 * Improve old water and sewer infrastructure

2002 - Joint Comprehensive Water Plan Study Committee

 * The | Final Report of the Georgia Water/Joint Comprehensive Water Plan Study Committee of the Georgia General Assembly listed | 42 water issues needing review and possible revision of policy.
 * 1. Wastewater Capacity in Growth Areas
 * 2. Improvement of Old Water and Sewer Infrastructure
 * 3. Attaining Water Quality Standards/TMDLs
 * 4. Cost-Effective Stormwater Solutions
 * 5. Septic Tank Installation and Maintenance
 * 6. Protection and Management of Georgia’s Aquifer Recharge Areas
 * 7. Source Water Assessment/Protection
 * 8. Protection, Conservation and Restoration of Wetlands, Marshlands, and other Aquatic Ecosystems
 * 9. Water as a Public Resource versus a Market Commodity
 * 10. Allocating/Reallocating Water among Users
 * 11. Allocation of State Water to Private Entities for Resale
 * 12. Legal Status of Water Withdrawals, Permits and Transfers
 * 13. Legal Status of the Water in Aquifers while in the Ground and Following Withdrawal
 * 14. Interbasin Water Transfer and Basin-of-Origin Protection
 * 15. Water for Agricultural Use
 * 16. Statewide Water Conservation and Efficiency
 * 17. Water Reuse
 * 18. Consumptive Use Measurement and Reduction
 * 19. Instream Flow Protection Standards and Strategy
 * 20. Priorities for Water Use during Drought
 * 21. Irrigation Efficiency and Research
 * 22. Overdraft of the Floridan Aquifer/Salt Water Intrusion
 * 23. Water Supply Reservoirs
 * 24. Aquifer Storage and Recovery
 * 25. Flood Mitigation, Floodplain Management, and Dam Safety
 * 26. Lake Protection and Management
 * 27. Development/Implementation of Erosion and Sedimentation Control Improvements
 * 28. State and Substate/Regional Water Management Options
 * 29. Privately Owned Public Water Systems
 * 30. Interstate Water Issues
 * 31. Real-Time Water Management
 * 32. Water Management with Increased Variation in Weather Patterns
 * 33. Interagency Coordination
 * 34. Enforcement
 * 35. Water Quality, Quantity, and Biotic Integrity Monitoring
 * 36. Data Management Systems
 * 37. Public Information and Involvement
 * 38. Statewide Watershed Management and Assessment Information/Standards
 * 39. Increase Funding and Personnel for Water Resources Administration, Including Monitoring
 * 40. Availability and Use of Federal Funding for Water-Related Activities
 * 41. Water for Energy Production Systems
 * 42. Water Security

2005 - Georgia Water Resources Conference

 * Five panels were scheduled for the 2005 Georgia Water Resources Conference, held April 25-27, 2005, to discuss issues related to the Georgia Comprehensive Statewide Water Resources Management Plan.
 * Water Quantity Allocation
 * Instream Flow Protection
 * Ground Water Level Protection
 * Water Quality (TMDL) Allocation
 * Water Conservation/Efficiency/Reuse