Alice Miller Keyes
GA Environmental Protection Division
Watershed Protection Branch

The ultimate goal of water conservation is not to prevent water use, but to maximize each gallon of water used (WCIP 2010)

 Judge Magnuson’s ruling
– Water supply was not originally authorized purpose of
Lanier
– Current supply use exceeds Army Corps authority
– Restricts future water use (2012)

 Water Stewardship Act of 2010
 Statewide Water Management Plan - conservation priority
 Regional water planning

 WSA was enacted by 2010 General Assembly
 Recognizes imminent needs:
– to create a culture of water conservation in the State of Georgia
– to plan for water supply enhancement during future extreme drought conditions and water emergencies
Signing Ceremony, June 1, 2010, Lake Lanier

SB 370 Water Stewardship Act
GA DNR (including EPD), GEFA, DCA, GFC,
DCH (including Division of Public Health),
GDA, GSWCC are to begin reporting:
• Opportunities to provide enhanced programming and incentives for voluntary water conservation in 14 specific areas
• Opportunities to enhance the state’s water supply
• Establish programs and report progress annually for the next five years
Report available online : www.gaepd.org
- What’s New

SB 370 Water Stewardship Act
Public water systems and political subdivisions must to improve water conservation by :
• Public Water Systems must conduct a water loss audit annually o Those serving >10,000 individuals by
January 1, 2012 o Those serving serving 3,300 to 10,000 individuals by January 1, 2013
• Outdoor irrigation restricted to 4 p.m. to
10 a.m. (exceptions specified)

SB 370 Water Stewardship Act
Farm Use surface water and ground water withdrawals to be classified as:
• Active
• Inactive
• Unused
Unused permits will expire after two years

SB 370 Water Stewardship Act
Requires high-efficiency plumbing fixtures in all new construction permitted on or after July 1, 2012:
• 1.28 gallon per flush toilets
• 2.5 gpm at 60 psi shower heads
• 0.5 gallon per flush urinals
• 1.5 gpm at 60 psi lavatory faucets
• 2.0 gpm kitchen faucets

SB 370 Water Stewardship Act
Submetering
•Submetering is specifically allowed
•All new multiunit residential and industrial buildings permitted on or after July 1, 2012 shall be submetered
Building Heat Removal
•High-efficiency cooling towers required in new construction permitted on or after July 1, 2012

SB 370 Water Stewardship Act
Committee of Ten Members:
• 4 members at-large by the Governor
• 4 members of the House of Representatives
• 4 members of the Senate
• House and Senate Natural Resources and the Environment Committee chairpersons to serve as co-chairpersons
Committee required to study and analyze the state’s reservoir system and strategic needs for additional water supply

• Comprehensive Water
Planning Act directed development of State Plan in 2004
• State Water Plan approved by General Assembly and signed by Governor Perdue in 2008
• Plan identifies Policies and
Implementation Actions
Regional Plan Development
• Water Resource Assessment technical tools developed for:
• Surface Water
Availability
• Groundwater
Availability
• Surface Water Quality
• Water needs through 2050
• 10 Regional Water Planning
Councils selecting management practices to meet future water needs

 Water conservation is
… not expected to fully meet all water needs
… an effective and efficient practice for all water users
(Policy 1 – Sec. 8)
… a priority water quantity management practice (Policy 3
– Sec. 7)
 Each Regional Water Planning
Council is expected to include demand management in their regional water plan

• Guidance issued to Councils to:
• Establish a common starting point for considering demand management practices
• Ensure practices reflect current rules as well as amended rules expected following the SWP and the
WSA, and
• Provide flexibility to Councils to adapt practices to the specifics of each region

Tier 4 : Beyond Basic
– to close resource gaps
Tier 3 :
Basic Practices, not required
Tier 2: Basic Practices, required of some
Tier 1: Basic Practices, required of all

 Guidance, not a prescriptive methodology
– Councils and their Contractors should use tools available
– Final process, inputs, outputs and results will be documented in a technical memorandum that supplements the regional plans
 Demand management practices will be included in regional plans
Available online www.GeorgiaWaterPl
anning.org
under
Technical
Guidance/Regional
Planning Guidance

 Amend conservation rules
 Establish water loss control program
 Enhance conservation assessment capacity

 Per the WSA and the SWP, DNR is to amend rules related to conservation and water loss.
 Amended rules will likely be coordinated and include:
 Progress toward water efficiency for water withdrawal permits (SWP)
 Annually report information on water efficiency (SWP)
 Annually submit water system audits (WSA)
 Likely to occur this Spring

 Water loss auditing assistance for providers
– DNR/EPD will develop BMPs manual for water loss control (per WSA)
– Targeted training opportunities for providers
 10,000+ individuals served - Jan 2012
 3,300-9,999 individuals served - Jan 2013
 GAWP will coordinate technical input and info sessions
– Technical input for manual
– Outreach and information sessions

 Develop a water conservation planning and tracking tool to support EPD water planning and permitting programs
– Adjusted from the Alliance for Water Efficiency conservation tracking model
– Provide consistency and ease in reporting
– Assistance to permittees

Water Conservation Implementation Plan
Regional water planning guidance
Rainwater harvesting guidelines
WaterSmart education and outreach tools
Trainings and workshop

 The WCIP
– creates a common vision for water conservation
– is not regulation
 Resource with sector-specific goals, benchmarks, practices, and implementation actions for:
– Agricultural Water Use,
– Electric Generation,
– Golf Course Water Use,
– Industrial and Commercial,
– Landscape,
– Public water providers, and
– State agencies

 The WCIP can be found through : www.ConserveWaterGeorgia.net
or www.GeorgiaWaterPlanning.org

 Rainwater is free, and not subject to drought restrictions
 You can collect 68,200 gal of rainwater from a
2200-sq ft roof if you receive 50 in of rain during a year
 Using rainwater in place of potable water for applications that don't require potable water quality saves energy, as well as collection, treatment and operating expense
 Rainwater harvesting can reduce runoff and thereby improve water quality http://www.conservewatergeorgia.net/GrayWaterGuidelin esandRainwaterGuidelines.htm

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Brochures and flyers
Video public service announcements
Homeowner workshop
Media Relations/Landscape
Challenge
Drought in Georgia – a unit for 6 th grade teachers
Upcoming “YardStick” for certifying waterSmart landscapes - Grant supported (hopefully…)

 Water loss control training workshops (Fall, 2011)
– IWA/AWWA methodology
– Best practices
 Water conservation planning and tracking workshops
– May 9 – Metro Atlanta, EPD Tradeport Training Center
– May 11 – Coastal GA, EPD Coastal District Office
 Conservation sessions at association meetings
– GAWP - GA WaterWise Council sessions
– GA Rural Water
– GA Water Resources Conference

 Conservation is not free, but practices are cost effective for managing water supplies
 The role of water utilities and local governments is increasing
– Public expectations
– Regional planning and reporting
 State and/or federal funds can off set cost of diverse water management practices
 Tools discussed today can only help

Alice Miller Keyes
Georgia EPD
Watershed Protection
Branch
912-262-3185
Alice.Keyes@dnr.state.ga.us