08 LC
25 5035ER
House
Resolution 1033
By:
Representatives Drenner of the
86th,
Henson of the
87th,
Benfield of the
85th,
Thomas of the
100th,
and Gardner of the
57th
A
RESOLUTION
Urging
that certain water conservation measures be required by the Department of
Natural Resources; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
the great State of Georgia is one of a few states in the nation which has no
interstate rivers flowing into it; and
WHEREAS,
the total dependence for drinking water supply and irrigation comes from ground
water and rainfall; and
WHEREAS,
water is without question the most valuable resource in our great state;
and
WHEREAS,
the issues of our diminishing supplies, increasing population, and lack of
conservation measures by the State of Georgia must be addressed;
and
WHEREAS,
other issues such as septic systems and ground application sewerage treatment
facilities contribute to the problems facing our citizens in the near term due
to the stoppage of flows and extended lag time for the return of used water back
into our creeks, streams, and lakes and pollution of our valuable ground water;
and
WHEREAS,
the Department of Natural Resources has the authority vested by the General
Assembly to develop regulations and enforce said regulations concerning the
correction of these dire circumstances; and
WHEREAS,
the General Assembly ranks this drought season and the future of Georgia's water
needs as a high priority due to the absolute necessity for pure, clean, and
abundant water supplies to our citizens, our farm economy, and our
industries.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that the Department
of Natural Resources is urged to require developments of subdivisions of over 12
new homes or industries whose water consumption exceeds 10,000 gallons of water
per day to be connected to proper municipal or county sewerage collection and
disposal so that water used shall be returned to our creeks and
rivers.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Natural Resources is urged to require
all new construction be mandated to install low flow shower heads on each
shower, that being a shower head which uses no more than two gallons of water
per minute.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Natural Resources is urged to
implement these measures and have the regulations completed and in the hands of
each water distributor within the State of Georgia to be effective no later than
January 1, 2009.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this body urges that said regulations and requirements
be written so as to have every shower head refitted and evidenced by original
bill of sale for said device forwarded to each water distributor within the
State of Georgia and to provide for penalties of increased water costs to any
consumer who fails to provide said receipts and retrofit said shower
heads.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this body urges that this resolution be implemented
immediately and a report of said regulations generated and distributed within
this calendar year to all members of the General Assembly and to each newspaper,
radio station, and television station reporting on such issues within the State
of Georgia.