ATLANTA - Georgia's political leaders are taking another look at legislation aimed at encouraging more water conservation in the wake of a devastating federal court ruling that could restrict Atlanta from its main water supply.
The state's political brass has for years been reluctant to support efforts such as rebates for more water-efficient toilets. And Gov. Sonny Perdue pointedly tells crowds that conservation efforts alone won't solve the legal crisis.
However, the governor told The Associated Press he's more willing to consider government-backed efforts to reduce water use as Georgia looks to prove it's a good environmental steward in the long-running fight with Florida and Alabama over federal water rights.
``I've always viewed water usage as really a local issue because every community is distinct,'' Perdue told the AP this month. ``But there may be some statewide commonsense things we can begin looking into in new construction areas, low-flow toilets.''
Other GOP leaders are also signaling they are more open to the idea. House Speaker Glenn Richardson, for one, appointed a special subcommittee to consider conservation measures. And Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle has said the Legislature must consider incentives for conservation.
The changing tune would mark a significant shift in state policy. While legislators in 2008 added water-efficient appliances to a sales tax holiday previously devoted to energy-efficient products, environmentalists had otherwise been frustrated by what they viewed as a lackluster response to water problems.
Talk of such statewide rebates at the height of Georgia's drought in late 2007 and early 2008, for instance, was swiftly batted down by legislative leaders. Richardson said at the time that low-flow toilets ``just give you exercise on your right hand. When you have a low flow toilet, what do you do? Flush it again.''
Other efforts also fell by the wayside this year. Those measures included an effort that would have allowed more drought-tolerant plants in Georgia yards and another that would have required multifamily complexes to be built with a water meter on each housing unit.
However, a federal judge's July ruling may have sparked a change. The decision found Georgia had little legal rights to Lake Lanier. Water withdrawals from the lake could be cut to a fraction within three years if a new deal isn't reached between Georgia, Alabama and Florida.
Perdue has vowed to appeal the ruling while also trying to lure the governors of Alabama and Florida back to the negotiating table. But he also said he wanted to highlight Georgia's efforts to be a good environmental steward.
The governor in particular highlighted the approach taken by the Atlanta suburb of Sandy Springs, which developed an incentive program designed to encourage developers, builders and homeowners to conserve water.
``The problem with conservation is that many local governments and local water utilities built their business model on selling so much water. And then you get into the conflict of conservation being morally right, but economically horrible,'' he said. ``That's the challenge.''
Other Republicans struck a similar chord. Richardson said through a spokesman that the subcommittee will work to ``encourage conservation and look at options to increase our state's water supply.'' Cagle argued that bolstering the state's reputation as a good steward will strengthen Georgia's case at the negotiating table and in the courts.
But there are few specifics. Perdue did not elaborate on what legislation he would back. And Carol Couch, the director of Georgia's environmental protection division, said her office is still developing its strategy, although she said proposals could include enhancing the plumbing code and sub-metering water units.
Environmentalists hoping to take advantage of the newfound support are cautiously optimistic. A group of about a dozen prominent environmental leaders seized the opportunity to meet with Perdue this week to urge him to embrace legislation they say would make conservation a way of life.
April Ingle, executive director of the Georgia River Network, said she left the meeting feeling hopeful.
``It went well. I saw a willingness to listen to ideas,'' she said. ``What we'll have to wait and see is if they move forward on any of them.''
Monday
June 9th, 2025
1:38AM
