Macon looking to expand reservoir

MACON - The Macon Water Authority is looking to increase its capacity partly out of fears that metro Atlanta could dip into one of its main water sources with its future use of Lake Lanier as a water source in doubt.

Authority director Tony Rojas said the authority is interested in raising the dam at the Javors Lucas Lake even though the agency already has one of the largest water supplies in the state.

But he said a delay of an expansion could risk Macon's ability to grow later because metro Atlanta counties might be allocated water from tributaries of the Ocmulgee River.

Metro Atlanta counties have focused on building new reservoirs in the aftermath of an epic drought that strangled the region and a July ruling by a federal judge that could restrict the area's rights to withdraw water from Lake Lanier.