A drought threatens Atlanta and water wars loom in the U.S.
New York. Atlanta needs tap water. Nearly two years into one of the worst droughts ever recorder in Georgia, the large city faces a water crisis. As the 2008 Georgia legislative session opened on Monday January 14 in Atlanta, city officials are looking for ways to face the looming water shortages and preserve resources in the drought-stricken area. Atlanta just recorded one of its driest year and despite recent rainfalls, the city might be in trouble again soon. “During the drought which started in March 2006, some towns only got 60% of the rain water they usually need for their drinking water”, said Pam Knox, assistant State climatologist in Georgia. “Problems will start in April. There will be more evaporation and it we do not have reserves in the soil”. A water war broke out between Atlanta and other communities. “Some towns claim that Atlanta is stealing water”, added Pam Knox. “There are not many sources of water upstream from Atlanta, which makes it more difficult to guarantee water for the city”. As the scientist pointed out, the fight for water crossed Georgia’s state lines. “Alabama is downstream from Georgia and is in a drought too”, Pam Knox said. On January 14, Georgia lawmakers were given a draft of a plan to manage water resources approved by the Georgia Water Council. “We never had a comprehensive plan on how to respond to a drought effectively”, the State climatologist said. “Athens, Ga, did not even have a reservoir until 10 years ago”. Georgia legislators predicted both the State House and Senate would act on the bill quickly, probably by the end of the first week in session. The growth of Atlanta has now become a “huge issue”, as Pam Knox puts it. “Some people say we should shut down growth. We need a change of attitude. We cannot grow communities until we have water”. Georgia authorities are looking for way to save water. Georgia and Alabama are not the only States in trouble. “56% of the U.S is experiencing drought conditions according to our drought monitor”, said Brian Fuchs, a climatologist at the National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC) in Lincoln, Nebraska. Last year, 48,5% of the country was in a similar situation. Moreover, 2,5% of the U.S is experiencing exceptional drought conditions compared to 0,33% last year. “We have had to face crisis situations in the past but never of such a scale”, said Dr. Michael Hayes, director of the NDMC. A big water war is looming in the Great Lakes region. In October 2007, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson told the Las Vegas Sun, that water from the Great Lakes could be piped to the Southwestern states such as his. The former Democratic presidential candidate had to back off from this idea after protests from Midwestern and Great Lakes-area States. But as Michael Hayes said, “it is not a secret that a lot of people in the U.S. now have their eyes on the Great Lakes Basin”. New York / Jean-Cosme Delaloye CommentsYou must be logged in to post a comment. |
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