Georgia continues to suffer drought

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By Jonathan Specht

Tiger fans staying in Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game will want to bring lots of bottled water and take short showers. While Louisiana has had no shortage of rain this year, other parts of the South, especially northern Georgia, have been suffering through one of the worst droughts ever recorded.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, 131 of Georgia’s 159 counties are experiencing severe drought conditions. On October 30, Governor Perdue declared a state of emergency and created a Drought Response Unified Command to coordinate drought-related efforts.

The city of Atlanta has responded by issuing a watering ban for homeowners that is, according to the city’s Web site, the strictest in the history of Georgia. Aside from food gardens and one area newly planted by certified landscapers, no outdoor watering is allowed.

The situation is especially dangerous for Atlanta because most of the city’s water comes from Lake Lanier, which can only be filled by a large amount of rainfall. According to the US Army Corps of Engineers Web site, however, rainfall levels for the fall are the lowest the region has experienced since 1839, and no significant rainfall is predicted for the near future.

Georgians have been urged to take many steps to reduce their water consumption. The city of Atlanta recommends that citizens take “Navy” showers by turning the water off before lathering up with soap, then turning it back on to rinse off. Atlanta is partnering with Home Depot to give discounts to people who buy low-flow toilets. The city government is also doing everything it can to reduce its own water usage, including spending $1 billion on fixing its aging water infrastructure to stop leaks.

Matt Fillete, a sophomore electrical engineering major at Georgia Tech and a native of Alexandria, La., described the attitude of his fellow students.

“Some students really don't care, but the general consensus is for everyone to do their part to conserve water,” said Fillette. “Beyond a natural disaster, such as a hurricane, one never expects to be without water in America, but that’s just it; this is a natural disaster.”

Fillette even went so far as to not wash clothes for three weeks so he could bring them home to Louisiana to wash over Thanksgiving.

Climatologists at the University of Georgia predict that the drought will not only continue through the spring of 2008, but it may also spread to the southeastern part of the state. If rain doesn’t come soon, students in the Atlanta area may be in for a rocky spring semester.

“One student was telling me he fears that we won’t be able to have school in the spring if the reservoir runs dry,” said Fillette.

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Originally Published: Issue 588 - November 28, 2007

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