Georgia's landscaping industry has been hard hit by drought and a resulting outdoor watering ban, but Gov. Sonny Perdue provided some relief Wednesday by announcing the state would ease watering restrictions.
The new plan, which Perdue said would strengthen the state's landscaping industry, allows plants to be handwatered for 25 minutes every other day for three days a week.
New, professionally installed landscapes also may be watered up to three days a week for 10 weeks. Those wishing to water new, professionally installed landscaping must register through the online Outdoor Water Use Registration Program.
"Our state will strike a strong balance between water conservation, economic solvency and giving our growers in this state the tools they need to make this state greener and more prosperous in the future," Perdue said. "We need to come together to support an industry that is so important to our state."
Perdue also was expected to issue an announcement Wednesday on outdoor swimming pools. Pool companies have been concerned that the outdoor water ban would force swimming pools around north Georgia to go unfilled during the summer.
Severe drought compelled the state last fall to ban outdoor watering in north Georgia and order public water providers in the region to cut their water withdrawals by 10 percent.
Landscapers have been pushing the state to ease the restrictions before spring, their busiest season. Their lobbyists estimate that more than 14,000 employees have already lost their jobs due to the drought, which forced well-known Atlanta company Pike Nursery Holding into bankruptcy.
John Strickland of Organic Growing Systems in Atlanta said Perdue's exemptions would allow the state's $8 billion landscaping industry to avoid financial extinction.
"We look at springtime in our industry -- that's our Christmas," Strickland said. "Consumers are actually scared to invest in a plant where they are not sure if it's going to die or not. If we follow these rules, the consumer confidence will come up."
The 61 north Georgia counties under the Level 4 drought restrictions, which began in September, will be required to achieve Perdue's reduction goal of at least 10 percent.
The 10 percent water reduction will be calculated using last year's April to September average monthly water use.
Labels: Sonny Perdue, water, Water Ban, Water Restrictions
# posted by
Brian Vanderhoff @ 6:21 PM
ATLANTA - Governor Sonny Perdue today directed the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) to modify current surface water and groundwater withdrawal and drinking water permits to achieve a 10 percent reduction in withdrawals for permit holders in the 61 North Georgia counties covered under the Level 4 drought designation. Permit holders will be required to reduce water withdrawals by 10 percent compared to the permit holder's water usage of the last winter season (beginning of December 2006 through end of March 2007). The new restrictions are effective when the EPD director notifies all permit holders in writing. The permit modifications apply to all non-farm permit holders.
"In this unprecedented drought, we all have to pitch in and find ways to conserve our most precious resource," Governor Sonny Perdue said. "A 10 percent reduction in water use is a first step, and we will continue to evaluate our drought response and encourage additional conservation as needed."
The revised permit restrictions will be in place beginning November 1 and will continue as necessary. Georgia EPD will enforce permit restrictions and impose fines for noncompliance.
"Many communities already have successful conservation programs in place," said Governor Perdue. "I encourage all Georgians to make their dry lawns and dirty cars a badge of honor. By making individual conservation efforts, along with reasonable solutions from our federal government, we can collectively help to ensure that our water supply is sufficient."
The 61 counties included in the Level 4 drought declaration include: Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clarke, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Dade, Dawson, DeKalb, Douglas, Elbert, Fannin, Fayette, Floyd, Forsyth, Franklin, Fulton, Gilmer, Gordon, Greene, Gwinnett, Habersham, Hall, Haralson, Harris, Hart, Heard, Henry, Jackson, Jasper, Lincoln, Lumpkin, Madison, Meriwether, Morgan, Murray, Muscogee, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Rabun, Rockdale, Spalding, Stephens, Towns, Troup, Union, Walker, Walton, White, Whitfield and Wilkes.
This directive is the latest step taken to help Georgians through the worst drought in the state's history. The northern third of Georgia is under Level 4 drought restrictions, or a complete outdoor watering ban. Georgia's major federal reservoirs, such as West Point Lake and Lake Lanier, continue to dwindle as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sends billions of gallons of water downstream every day despite the impact their actions will have on Georgia's water supply and its citizens.
On Saturday, October 20, Governor Perdue signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency in 85 counties in Georgia due to the historic drought. Governor Perdue also sent a letter to President Bush outlining steps the state has taken to minimize the impact of the drought and emphasizing the increasingly severe threat to Georgia businesses, industry, economic stability and the health and safety of Georgia citizens. He requested President Bush to temporarily exempt the state of Georgia from the Endangered Species Act to reduce the flows from Georgia reservoirs and preserve Georgia's precious water resources.
On Friday, October 19, Governor Perdue filed a motion for preliminary injunction in the Middle District of Florida Federal Court requiring the Army Corps of Engineers to restrict water flows from Lake Lanier and Georgia's federal reservoirs.
Labels: Sonny Perdue, water, Water Ban, Water Restrictions
# posted by
Brian Vanderhoff @ 1:37 PM
