Water

Water is a precious resource in Georgia and its neighboring states. Growing populations and ongoing drought are squeezing our water resources dry, causing natural habitat degradation and impacting our everyday use of water. We have no choice but to pay more attention to how we are using water, and how we may be wasting and polluting it. We must bridge the gap between our understanding of how important water is to our survival and what we can do to ensure that we have an adequate supply of clean water for years to come. This section contains information on how you can conserve water in and around your home and various water-related education resources.

Conservation and Restrictions

• Drought in Georgia—A special information site from the University of Georgia with the latest drought information, including rainfall, stream and soil moisture data, water use tips and Statewide watering restrictions.
• Department Of Natural Resources: Water Conservation Program—Site with information on the long-term efficient use of Georgia’s water resources throughout the State.

Education and Cleanup

• Georgia Adopt-A-Stream—Georgia’s volunteer water quality monitoring program is designed to collect baseline water quality data, encourage private-public partnerships and boost public awareness of our waterways.
• Project WET—Water Education for Teachers is a national K-12 interdisciplinary water education program intended to supplement a school’s existing curriculum.
• Rivercare 2000—”Georgia Rivers: An Initial Assessment” is the state’s first comprehensive look at its rivers. Some 70 specialists in natural, cultural and recreational fields evaluate the current quality of Georgia’s rivers.
• Map of Georgia’s 52 Watersheds—Look here for a color-coded map of all Georgia’s watersheds.
• Map of Georgia’s 14 River Basins—Look here for a color-coded map of all Georgia’s river basins.
• Fish Consumption Guidelines—To help ensure the good health of Georgians, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources has developed guidelines for how often certain species of fish can be safely eaten.
• Chattahoochee Riverway Project—BacteriALERT—How safe is it to swim, wade, and boat in the Chattahoochee River today? The Chattahoochee Riverway BacteriALERT provides timely bacteria information for two locations on the Chattahoochee River.
• Clean Water Campaign—The Clean Water Campaign is a cooperative, multi-agency public education initiative spearheaded by 20 local governments and facilitated by the Atlanta Regional Commission.