New water conservation measures issued

ATLANTA - The Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District has issued new conservation measures that could reduce water consumption by 30 million gallons a day over the next several decades.

Atlanta Regional Commission "chief environmental planner" Pat Stevens says mandating leak detectors is just one example.

"The water systems are gonna be looking at point of use leak detection meters that would provide information about how water is used in the house," Stevens told Georgia News Network. "Water systems are being asked to assess their water loss and expedite the reduction of repairing leaks."

Stevens says customers would pay for such improvements through their water bills, but they would be phased in over the next 30 years.

She added "Water departments in the Chattahoochee River Basin (that take water from Lake Lanier) will push a program to encourage installation of new toilets."

Those include the ones in Gainesville, Cumming, Forsyth County and Gwinnett County.

"They're gonna be offering multi-family rebates to apartments so they can change out their old toilets to use more conserving toilets."

Stevens said leak detection meters would be installed in the Chattahoochee River Basin area enabling water systems to report to their customers that they have a leak more quickly."

And, yes, she said water uses will pay for these improvements through their water bills, adding, "these are long range water conservation measures so it'll be over time incorporated into the cost of doing business...but it will save water and help customers save water."

The Planning District guides water systems in 15 north Georgia counties, including Hall.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2010/12/234584