Gov. Perdue asks Georgians to make water conservation commitments ‘that we have never asked of them before’

By Tom Baxter and Dick Pettys February 4, 2010 — Georgians will be called to a new “culture of conservation” under water legislation outlined Wednesday by Gov. Sonny Perdue, struggling in the twilight of his term to find a solution to the long-running water dispute with neighboring Florida and Alabama. At a news conference Wednesday morning, Perdue called the legislation “a diverse and comprehensive package,” and then went on to warn that it will require a brand new mindset for many Georgians: “Where it makes sense, we’re going to ask Georgians to make commitments that we have never asked of them before, and at other points, we will launch incentive-based efforts to encourage creativity and innovation involving our very diverse bill will require efficient water fixtures in all new residential and commercial construction statewide.” …  All of these provisions go into effect in July, 2012 – the same month as the deadline set by U.S. District Court Judge Paul Magnuson in his ruling last July that municipalities in Metro Atlanta will have to stop withdrawing water from Lake Lanier in three years absent an agreement between the states or new action from Congress. Perdue said this would give developers and builders time to build in the new requirements. … “We cannot totally conserve our way into long-term sustainable use of water. There have got to be new sources of supply. That means interconnections, systems working together better, new reservoirs, reservoirs expansions and other systems solutions for supply.” … He did make one promise, that he would protect their interests. “I’m here to tell you I’m not going to let them take any of our agricultural water,” he said. “I won’t sign any deal that does.”

Gov. Perdue calls Georgians to a culture of water conservation