Water (Atlanta: disposal, costs, bill)

[green_mariner]

This is why I like rain. Droughts go away and the make living easier and more relaxed. The solution I could think of is whenever GA has a water surplus, store that water away for a future drought. It is the only viable solution I can think of that isn't expensive, but it isn't timely.

[greg_atlanta]

The best way to conserve water is raise the price!!! (just like gasoline)

What does the average homeowner pay for metered water each month? $50? If the price doubled or tripled, usage patterns would change really fast.

I pay a flat $28 for water/sewer/trash (unlimited) at my 2 br/2 ba apartment, so I have no incentive to save water by washing clothes less often or taking shorter showers (though I could save energy).

[UnderTheLiveOaks]

I am sorry about the drought, guys. I hope things get better for you soon. I was following this thread, and I think it's interesting that folks talk about how to get more water more than how to conserve it. One step? Rethink our yards. Grass is great. It's pretty. So are flowers. They take a ton of water to maintain, though. I've heard that there are actually still a few people accepting the potential fine in ATL just to water their lawns. Their LAWNS! In the middle of a drought. Dudes. People will understand if your precious grass browns.

How about fixing leaks? Or taking shorter showers, and only doing them once a day? Or the ol' "if it's yellow, let it mellow" approach to toilet use?

[JPD]

Last night on the news Sonny Perdue said the drought was going to make things uncomfortable, but "that's the price we have to pay to live in such a great country".

Can someone please explain to me how that makes ANY sense?

[green_mariner]

Two days of rain. I hope we get more.

[PeteyNice]

Originally Posted by JPD

Last night on the news Sonny Perdue said the drought was going to make things uncomfortable, but "that's the price we have to pay to live in such a grerat country".

Can someone please explain to me how that makes ANY sense?

I believe what he is trying to say is that if we clap louder the drought will end.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by greg_atlanta

The best way to conserve water is raise the price!!! (just like gasoline)

I think you're right on target.

What does the average homeowner pay for metered water each month? $50? If the price doubled or tripled, usage patterns would change really fast.

We pay roughly $35/month with 2/3 of it being sewer fees, not water fees (Cobb County also charges for drainage for each gallon you use). When we ran the sprinkler system (normally a few times a month max), our water bill would normally double or triple, so I didn't tend to do that unless the grass was actually on the verge of dying. I think we ran them in July and August, and not much at all last year (maybe once or twice at isolated times).

I pay a flat $28 for water/sewer/trash (unlimited) at my 2 br/2 ba apartment, so I have no incentive to save water by washing clothes less often or taking shorter showers (though I could save energy).

For us, not using the sprinklers (currently enforced by law ) allows us to cut our usage in more than half. But we're already fairly water-thrifty (between my wife, myself, and four cats, we'll normally use between 2000 and 3000 gallons per month).

[saturn50]

Originally Posted by janette moss

Does Georgia have hurricanes? I hope nothing that drastic has to happen to get rain. I would rather a "marathon rain dance" take place. Let's pray that Georgia will be able to sing "Rainey Night in Georgia" soon.

Hurricane Opal, September, 1995 or 1996. The pounding rain and howling wind did not stop for about 12 hours--some serious wind damage where I lived. It was a long and scary night, although it was worse in some areas than others if memory serve me right. Normally we just have heavy rains from hurricanes, and sometimes tornados. I noticed a post from several months in answer to whether or not Georgia still has tornados. Obviously, the person who answered is a transplant, because he/she said not to worry, because tornados don't happen around here anymore. He/she will be in for a rude awakening the first time they hear that freight train screaming over their head--it's a sound you never forget. The drought will end, and the storms will be back.

[KevK]

We are not running out of water and nowhere near running out of water. This is just a big lie so they can raise our water bills. If it was true, do you really think they would be handing out building and tap permits at the rate of 200,000 or so every year? We now have close to 5 million people here now and with current rates of growth, we will double that in 20 years to 10 million. If they cannot find water for 5 million, where do you think they will get it for 10 million???

[OhioNative]

Originally Posted by KevK

We are not running out of water and nowhere near running out of water. This is just a big lie so they can raise our water bills. If it was true, do you really think they would be handing out building and tap permits at the rate of 200,000 or so every year? We now have close to 5 million people here now and with current rates of growth, we will double that in 20 years to 10 million. If they cannot find water for 5 million, where do you think they will get it for 10 million???

Uh, have you seen Lake Lanier lately?