Legislative committee gives recommendations for water problems

ATHENS - A legislative committee says the first step to fixing Georgia&#39;s water problems is to develop a statewide water management plan. <br> <br> The Georgia Agribusiness Council is also recommending setting up a water council within the Environmental protection division to report its findings to the governor&#39;s office. <br> <br> Among the council&#39;s 35 recommendations: <br> <br> Forcing farmers to report how much water they use for irrigation through pumps or wells. <br> <br> Forcing anyone who takes more than 100,000 gallons a day for irrigation to obtain a permit. <br> <br> Several recommendations deal with restricting transfers of water from one river basin to another. <br> <br> Allowing some water users to pay for permits and then sell water rights to other users.