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| Click here to see how your legislators voted on the water plan: House: www.legis.ga.gov/legis/2007_08/votes/hv0497.htm Senate: www.legis.ga.gov/legis/2007_08/votes/sv0520.htm Background: On Fri., Jan. 18, just five days into the 40 day legislative session, the House and Senate both passed resolutions adopting the Water Council Water Plan. However, a motion was made in the House to "Reconsider", which means the house will vote on whether or not they will re-vote on the water plan when they next convene Jan. 28. As stated in earlier updates and alerts, the Water Council Water Plan has problems that need to be fixed. The Georgia Water Coalition will now work with the legislature to fix these problems through various legislative means. Regional Planning Districts: The Water Plan districts are drawn along political boundaries instead of natural watershed boundaries. The Georgia Water Coalition will continue to work with legislators to get planning done along watershed boundaries. Interbasin Transfers (IBTs): Current law provides no protection for downstream communities against IBTs; the director of EPD merely has to issue a press release before allowing such a transfer. The water plan only states that the Board of Natural Resources "should consider" amending its rules to state that EPD "should" consider certain factors related to transfers. The Georgia Water Coalition will work with legislators to get statutory fixes that will protect communities from Interbasin Transfers. No requirements for conservation or efficiency: The water plan has few actual "requirements" and instead says that the state "should" or "may" pursue important conservation or efficiency tools. The Georgia Water Coalition will work with legislators to get mandatory requirements for conservation and efficiency. Amenity reservoirs: A late change in the water plan removed a requirement that reservoirs be fully utilized for water supply which means developers may build 'reservoirs' as housing development amenities at the expense of Georgia taxpayers. The Georgia Water Coalition will work with legislators to make sure all conservation measures are exhausted before building new reservoirs, and before new reservoirs are built, that they be required to follow strict rules for drinking water supply protection. The Georgia Water Coalition will continue to work with legislators to deal with these critical issues to protect rivers, communities, and our future water supply. Please stay tuned; your participation in these efforts will be crucial. |