Brian Vanderhoff's North Fulton Real Estate Blog

Residents and businesses in north Atlanta, including the Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza malls, are being asked to boil water after a power outage at the Northside Pumping Station.

The area under the advisory is West Wesley Road to the south; the DeKalb County line to the east; Northside Drive to the west and Wieuca Road, Loridans Drive and Churchill Downs to the north. City officials could not estimate how many customers were affected.

City officials said the power outage happened about 5:30 a.m. and was restored approximately two hours later.

Officials are maintaining the advisory as a precaution to prevent anyone from getting sick from potential bacterial contamination.

Officials said the water should be boiled for at least one minute after it reaches a boiling point.

Labels: Atlanta, boil, water

Fulton County is not prepared to raise water and sewer rates again, at least not yet.

Despite the fact that county staff insists a 10 percent rate increase is necessary to achieve its debt service requirement, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners held off on taking any action on the item for 45 days during their Dec. 17 meeting. "I'm not ready to impose a rate increase without some kind of true strategy for capital planning," said Commissioner Lynn Riley.

The request to increase the rates once again comes only months after the rates were increased by 17 percent. However, because water usage was down by nearly 24 percent between October 2007 and October 2008 the county could be in trouble with its bond repayment.

The bond, which was taken out on the system expansion, requires that money coming in is slightly above the bond repayment amount. But because more water and sewer customers have implemented conservation in their usage and other jurisdictions have raised their water and sewer rates against the county, something must be done so that Fulton doesn't find itself having trouble repaying its debt.

County Finance Director Patrick O'Conner told said the county could receive a bad credit rating if the rate increase is not approved. In fact, he believes non-approval could impact the issuance of recently approved library bonds.

"I'm philosophically opposed to the additional rate increase, but because of language in the bond formula we might have to [increase rates]," said Commissioner Robb Pitts.

Still, until they have a much better handle on how water and sewer systems are managed, Riley won't approve an increase, she said.

"All of these issues give me great concern," said Riley.

Commissioner Emma Darnell requested a short, comprehensive analysis of the operational budget in terms of personnel, equipment and cost per unit before the item comes back before the commission in January.

Labels: Fulton, Fulton County, Increase, Rates, water

Get out the garden hose and pull back that pool cover. Starting April 1, Alpharettans might be able to hand water their lawns and fill up their pools starting April 1, if the Fulton County Board of Commissioners relaxes its watering rules this week.

North Georgia still is in drought conditions, so residents will only get one time a week for less than 30 minutes to hand water their yards.



Recommendations sent to Fulton Commissioners were to allow:
• Hand watering 25 minutes, one day per week.
• Filling outdoor swimming pools.
• A one time watering newly installed landscaping three-nights-a-week for 30 days. Register at www.urbanagcouncil.com

City Council members rushed to remind residents conservation is still needed. Fulton County staff recommended tighter restrictions than the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) requires. That was necessary to make sure the county met an EPD requirement to reduce water use by 10 percent compared to 2007 usage.

Mayor Arthur Letchas brought the proposal before council.

"We still aren't going to take our eyes off the target as far as removing our water restrictions. But we would like to fall in line with the EPD and Fulton County water restrictions," Letchas said.

Councilman David Belle Isle, who grew up in Gainesville, said as a child he saw some low lake levels. But nothing compares to how low the lake is today.

"The docks are on the ground," he said. "You think because we've had some rain it's fine – but it's not fine," Belle Isle said.

Labels: Fulton, Fulton County, North Fulton, water, Water Ban, Water Restrictions

Chattanooga's mayor says a truckload of bottled water he sent to Georgia lawmakers Wednesday morning, along with a declaration offering a "cool wet kiss of friendship," is intended to be humorous.

Mayor Ron Littlefield said he considers the region's extended drought to be a serious situation but he has never taken seriously a move to change the states' boundaries to get access to the Tennessee River.

The mayor said he hopes his "Give Our Georgia Friends a Drink Day" proclamation and delivery Wednesday in Atlanta are accepted in the humorous way he intended.

PROCLAMATION: WHEREAS, it has come to pass that the heavens are shut up and a drought of Biblical proportions has been visited upon the Southern United States, and
WHEREAS, the parched and dry conditions have weighed heavily upon the State of Georgia and sorely afflicted those who inhabit the Great City of Atlanta, and
WHEREAS, the leaders of Georgia have assembled like the Children of Israel in the desert, grumbled among themselves and have begun to cast longing eyes toward the north, coveting their neighbor's assets, and
WHEREAS, the lack of water has led some misguided souls to seek more potent refreshment or for other reasons has resulted in irrational and outrageous actions seeking to move a long established and peaceful boundary, and
WHEREAS, it is deemed better to light a candle than curse the darkness, and better to offer a cool, wet kiss of friendship rather than face a hot and angry legislator gone mad from thirst, and Whereas, it is feared that if today they come for our river, tomorrow they might come for our Jack Daniels or George Dickel,
NOW THEREFORE, In the interest of brotherly love, peace, friendship, mutual prosperity, citywide self promotion, political grandstanding and all that I Ron Littlefield, Mayor of the City of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Do hereby Proclaim that Wednesday, February 27, 2008 shall be known as "Give Our Georgia Friends a Drink Day"

The proclamation compares Georgia leaders to "Children of Israel in the desert" and says "tomorrow they might come for our Jack Daniel's or George Dickel" -- both brands of Tennessee whiskey.

Georgia Sen. David Shafer called the move "posturing" and said he would prefer a meeting of a boundary commission to resolve Georgia's claim.

Labels: Georgia boundries, state lines, Tennessee River, water

The Milton City Council has a looming problem with Fulton County.

Many residents of this newly founded city are upset that the county plans to construct a 140-foot water tower near their homes, and have enlisted the city to help plead their case. The tower sits on county land inside the city limits near Freemanville Road.

The residents object to the tower because it would be visible over their homes. And they say it isn't necessary because a consortium of developers are installing a major pump to improve water pressure.

"It's big and it's ugly and it's not needed," said resident Wayne Super.

On Wednesday, the city council unanimously approved a resolution calling on the county to abandon its plans.

The resolution noted that a 40-foot water tower is in the area, but that the city has required it be hidden by trees and plants to preserve the rural character of the community.

"... The proposed water tank will defeat the city's purposes of the vegetative screening requirements as a water tower at the proposed height will be incapable of screening and may threaten the rural nature of the community," the resolution states.

Super acknowledged the resolution carries no legal weight, but said he hopes that the city council's stance will help convince the county commission to reconsider building the tower.

The county has argued that the tower is needed to improve water pressure for safety and convenience to nearby subdivisions that are being constructed in the southern end of the city. They also want to provide more reliable source of water for the area.

The tower would cost about $3.75 million and would be constructed this year.

Labels: Fulton County, milton, Milton Georgia, water, Water Tower

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

A rainy end to 2007 spared north Georgia from setting a new record for the driest year ever. Atlanta finally edged over the 1954 record breaking rainfall deficit on Sunday, but is still dealing with exceptional drought conditions. Click on video for more information. Julia Harding reports. SideBar

Labels: Drought, Rain, water, Water Ban

There's a storm brewing in northern Milton over water - but unlike the rest of the state, it's not over the lack of it. On Pritchard Mountain, water pressure is the issue.

The fight is over a proposed elevated water tank near the under-construction Hampshires subdivision, located west of Freemanville Road near the intersection of Mountain Road. If built, it would tower over existing homes in the area.

And that's what sets off Wayne Super. He lives less than 100 feet from the proposed site and has started an online petition to stop construction of the tank, which petitioners say will adversely affect properties. At press time, he had 71 signatures.

In its place, he proposes the construction of a low-rise pumping solution that will, according to himself and experts with whom he was worked, fulfill all the requisite safety requirements for adequate, reliable water service.

"We're trying to create a positive solution," he said. "We're not opposing something for safety."

Though Pritchard Mountain is really just a big hill, it is the highest point in the county, said Mike Rachelson, project manager for Fulton County.

That means the existing homes and those proposed for development in the area would be higher the 1,150 feet of elevation cap for water service without a gravity tank, said Chris Browning, Deputy Director of Public Works for the county. But Pritchard Mountain is a pretty small area.


"Therefore, the long-range plan was to serve that area using a separate pressure zone when the area developed," he said.

In 2005, the county entered into an agreement with developers who wanted to put homes at those areas of higher elevation than water service would allow. Under the terms, the builders put in a $3.7 million water booster system for temporary service until a tank could be constructed, said Browning.

So now, the plan is to build a 500,000-gallon tank with an overflow elevation - the maximum height of the water in the tank - 105 feet higher than the existing Freemanville Road tank to ensure no chance of failure. The tank simply uses gravity, no mechanical means that might fail.

The new tank would increase the available water pressure for most residents to about 60 pounds per square inch -- the county minimum -- and cost approximately $1.2 million. It will be housed on existing county-owned property beside the existing Freemanville Road tank.

Super said the 150-foot tank is an unnecessary and unpopular means of redundancy.

"We have reasonable reliability [with the low-rise solution], not perfection," he said. "There is a cost associated with perfection, and the constituents don't want it."

Super also said there are a number of other factors that could decrease the need for the high-rise tank. Many homes are on well water, for instance.

Browning countered and said that were the pumping station to burn down, there would be no water service to the homes that need it. And the county is not willing to risk that.

"The likelihood of a widespread water outage are much less when customers are served by a gravity water system," he said.

Labels: Fulton, Fulton County, water, Water Restrictions, Water Tower

Lake Lanier continues to shrink in level. The water level is now about 15 feet below normal.

Labels: Drought, Lake Lanier, water, Water Ban, Water Restrictions

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

ALPHARETTA (AP) -- The city of Alpharetta has tightened its water restrictions, making them stricter than those mandated by the state.

The City Council approved a measure Monday that bans the watering of newly installed landscaping on residential or commercial property, even if the landscaping was installed by a professional.

The new ordinance allows Alpharetta police officers to issue criminal citations. It also empowers officers to inspect property to make sure people are complying with the watering ban.

To cope with the epic drought, Georgia officials in September banned virtually all outdoor watering in the northern part of the state and have warned that more restrictions could be coming.

Labels: Alpharetta, water, Water Ban, Water Restrictions

CNC's Discover Center planned as interactive teaching venue


by Hatcher Hurd


The Discover Center at the Chattahoochee Nature Center will be the interactive nerve center for visitors who come to visit the rambling 127 acres on the Chattahoochee River.

Seven years ago the Chattahoochee Nature Center Board of Directors began to plot a bold new course for the 127-acre preserve to claim its place for the 21st century, Board President Jose Creamer announced Oct. 12.

The first two years were to plan and design the Nature Center's new museum, Discover Center, and the Discover Pavilion as the CNC embarks on a $9 million makeover campaign, Creamer said.

The last five years, the Board of Directors has quietly raised $8 million of the fund needed. Now the community is asked

to help make that last push to secure the $1 million needed to finish the job.

The Discover Center will be the jumping off point for the 100,000 annual visitors (half of them students) to learn and understand the fragile relationship of the forests, rivers and wetlands of Georgia's piedmont.

The museum will tell about the need for conservation of both the natural beauty of Georgia's wildlife and plants and its natural resources, the latter brought home most notably with 2007's yearlong drought.

In that respect, the Nature Center's mission of education and interpretation of the area's natural resources has never been more critical, said CNC Executive Director Ann Bergstrom.

"The water level at Lake Alatoona is just six feet above the intake valve. When it falls below that, Cobb County will be out of water. The Ga. Environmental Protection Division director predicts Lake Lanier has a three-month supply of water. It is incomprehensible that we have gotten to this situation, but nevertheless, here we are," Bergstrom said.

She made the comment while announcing the new plans for the Nature Center, but she felt is was an appropriate time, because it is obvious to her there is a disconnect between Georgia's people and their environment – one that the Nature Center is working to turn around.

"This is a wakeup call for all of us. There is a point where population growth and limited resources intersect. We had better know where that point is," she said. "The Nature Center is all about these issues."

The Chattahoochee Nature Center, a private, non-profit facility strategically located midway on the Chattahoochee River, is evolving and expanding to meet the growing and changing needs of the region.

Once known solely as an educational facility for children, the Chattahoochee Nature Center is expanding its mission. That mission is to be the interpretive center for the Chattahoochee River.

The goals of the new Discovery Center include:

• Promoting connections between the environment and community issues related to the health of the Chattahoochee River.

• Inviting participation by providing a place where visitors can hear and feel the natural world, encouraging conservation efforts and the preservation of the natural world for present and future generations.

• Heighten community awareness of the relationship between a high-quality environment and a high-quality lifestyle, and inspiring change in visitors by endorsing environmental actions that advance a sustainable future.

The Chattahoochee River supplies Georgia with more than 60 percent of its drinking water, offers Georgians more than 140 miles of river parklands and is the Atlanta region's most immediate connection to the natural world. It is critical to the continued success and prosperity of the region.

Sen. Johnny Isakson, honorary chairman of the nature center's capital campaign, said the Chattahoochee Nature Center promotes a greater understanding and appreciation of the dependence of local populations upon the Chattahoochee River for their growth, and the importance of personal stewardship of the river for future generations.

"If we want to enjoy the way of life that exists today in metro Atlanta, we must tell this story of water conservation to the city's growing population. Thankfully, the Chattahoochee Nature Center exists to tell that story and to teach citizens how to sustain, conserve, and support the Chattahoochee River and its watershed," Isakson said.

The centerpiece of the expansion will be a 10,000-square-foot exhibit hall and museum that will break ground in February of next year and open in April 2009.

The Discovery Center will showcase hands-on exhibits depicting three separate areas of our watershed (river, wetland and forest) and a 65-person theater.

The small, existing Discovery Center will be converted into an open-air pavilion located on Kingfisher Pond that can host special programs ands events. The Discovery Center will also be home to a new series of programs and events geared towards adults who want to learn more about our local environment, and the impact the Chattahoochee River has on it.

Local architectural firm, Lord, Aeck & Sargent, has designed the two-level LEED-certified Discovery Center. Local landscaping company, EDAW, has been signed for site improvements and general landscaping beauty. Exhibit design firm, AldrichPears Associates from British Columbia, is designing the interior space.

"It's an exciting time to be involved with the Chattahoochee Nature Center. Great changes and exciting visions are about to come to fruition," said Creamer. "Atlanta and the entire region are about to be presented with a wonderful new resource for learning."

Citizens can visit the Chattahoochee Nature Center's Web site at chattnaturecenter.com to learn more about the changes or to make a donation.

Labels: Chattahoochee, Nature Center, Roswell, water

Water Restrictions Information Page.


Due to worsening drought conditions in Georgia, the Director of the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) has declared a level four drought response for the northern third of the state.

Labels: Alpharetta, water, Water Ban