Let's Talk About.....Water

Lorraine, A couple years ago I suggested that there be mechanisms put into place that encourage connections to the sewer system for homeowners that currently have aging septic systems. By treating individual homeowners differently than developers of subdivisions and allowing an extended time to pay a much lower connection fee (rather than an impact fee) when a nearby sewer main is available to the homeowner of an aging septic system, two benefits may be realized...the environmental damage that a failed septic system inflicts is eliminated and the used water remains in the water cycle to be used again after reclamation. I do agree with your other ideas but think you should evaluate the merit of this one as well. Thanks, Tom

I paid $1700 for an irrigation meter. I have paid the price for this $200 meter several times over. If you want REAL change, lower the price of the meter. Then monitor the installers that use substandard materials that allow the systems to break. Mine has broken twice and I've had to pay the extremely high water bills. I don't want the water police harassing the neighborhoods. There must be a better way to spend our tax dollars. When I go to the gas station, the meter lets me know IMMEDIATELY what I owe for gas. Why not build the same technology into the water meters. Gallons of water translated to $ makes a bigger impact.

Lorraine, our home was built in 2000 and we are suprised that in this day and age we must run our shower, kitchen tap, etc. for upwards of 3 minutes to get warm water. Would it be possible in future homes to insulate the water pipes between the hot water heater and the various fixtures requiring hot water so that the hot water is available right away to avoid running water to get it hot? As for my wife and I we are taking "Navy showers", not running while while I shave, etc. Thanks

At long last, after years of complacency we have real leadership emerging in Gwinnett County. All the items on Commissioner Green’s agenda are common sense practical approaches to solving what has been allowed to become very complex problems that could have been avoided altogether. Here’s a snippet from an article that appeared several days ago. Does any of this sound familiar? > Florida represents perhaps the nation's greatest water irony. A hundred years ago, the state's biggest problem was it had too much water. But decades of dikes, dams and water diversions have turned swamps into cities. Little land is left to store water during wet seasons, and so much of the landscape has been paved over that water can no longer penetrate the ground in some places to recharge aquifers. As a result, the state is forced to flush millions of gallons of excess into the ocean to prevent flooding. > “Little land is left to store water during wet seasons, and so much of the landscape has been paved over that water can no longer penetrate the ground in some places to recharge aquifers.” Yep, that’s Gwinnett County as we live and breathe. When it could have been avoided by enlarge, by simply doing this: Require greater amounts of pervious [paving] materials to recharge our groundwater and reduce runoff. I’m going to get off the soapbox now and watch what others have to say about this mess that has been created. I urge everyone to elect Lorraine Green as our new County Chairman.

Given the severity of the current water supply crisis, a moratorium on new water taps should already be implemented. New - including those already permitted - developments should not have their financial success subsidized by existing water users. They need to wait until adequate supply is available. After all, the development industry has played no small part in the failure to develop and implement a sustainable water supply plan. Longer term, the building code requirements should be amended to maximize water use efficiency. This would include mandating in-line water heaters to limit waste related to obtaining hot water for faucets and showers. New code guidelines should also incorporate mandatory gray water solutions to the long term conservation concerns. As a veteran, it gives me the creeps to have our country going in the direction of the government encouraging individual citizens/neighbors to report on fellow citizens/neighbors. That not only belongs behind the iron curtain, it is a divide and conquer political tool that obscures the factors resulting in the Big Picture and fails to encourage real solutions.

Something with real teeth and intent to promote quality development. Sandy Springs will consider a package of building code changes next month that are aimed at lowering water consumption. The City Council had expected to vote Tuesday on changes that include a requirement for gray water recycling systems in most new homes. Gray water has already been used in the home and can be redirected for other purposes. But the paperwork wasn't completed by the agenda deadline last week. In addition to the water recycling systems for new homes valued at $500,000 or more, Sandy Springs is considering requiring waterless urinals in all new commercial buildings and low-volume faucets, bath fixtures and appliances in all new homes. The building code changes now are expected to come before the City Council at the Dec. 18 meeting, following a public hearing.