Issue Position: Water

Issue Position

The water supply for our region and for Georgia as a whole is limited. The droughts of recent years have highlighted the need for novel approaches to managing this vital resource, especially with our growing population. The demand for water will soon outpace our reliable supply. Along with education and transportation, the water issue is central to the future economic prosperity of Georgia.

Most of the discussion from Georgia's leaders has focused on improving water supply. And while I support a measured, careful approach to increasing supply and storage of water for Georgia's use, I always keep two other priorities in mind. First, the right public policy can't be one which puts us in endless conflict and expensive lawsuits with our neighboring states. Second, the best thing we can do is change our demand curve for water. We must make the commitment to reduce water usage by consumers, industry and agriculture. Conservation measures must be a central focus as we work together to solve our water problems. Effective methods to increase conservation include:

- Public education programs promoting water conservation

- Incentivizing the purchasing of water-saving appliances by consumers and incentivizing utilities to reduce leakage from their systems

- Incentivizing the use of water-saving technologies by businesses and the installation of such technologies by builders

Georgians proved during the last drought that conservation is possible, sustainable, and effective. We must now, collectively, aim to make water conservation a permanent priority

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