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As "Exceptional" Drought Hits, the Southeast Wakes Up to the Value of Water Conservation Efforts
Story by Melissa Turner
"You never miss the water till the well has run dry." ~ Proverb
 Water is a valuable resource. Business and political issues aside, water nourishes not only our own bodies but also the body of earth we tread on each day. Water is essential for life, and at the same time, can be a dangerous thing. Drinking too much water leads to water intoxication. Drinking too little water leads to dehydration. Both conditions can result in death. The importance of this fine balance between "too much" and "too little" can be observed in the environment around us as well.
As the effects of global warming take their place on the world's stage, an interesting paradox of weather patterns occurs-some regions of earth's geography such as the Midwestern United States are bearing up under overwhelming flooding while other regions are suffering through severe droughts-experienced recently here in the Southeast. As the states of Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama experience what the United States Drought Monitor deems an "exceptional" drought (the highest level possible, a level higher than "extreme") a complex tapestry of concerns is being revealed, and the Southeast is realizing water is a valuable resource not to be taken for granted.
Drought Slams the Southeast
 It all began with a dry spell hitting Georgia and Alabama during summer 2006 followed by a record-setting drought spreading across the entire Southeast in 2007. Normally a well-watered region, the typical rainfall for the Chattanooga, Tennessee area is 54.52 inches a year, but in 2007 Chattanooga saw a rainfall of only 38.62 inches-nearly 16 inches below average rainfall. The National Climatic Data Center reports that spring 2007 was the driest in the Southeast since record keeping began in 1895.
Out West and throughout many parts of the world-where water shortages and water conservation are a way of life-water is more likely to be viewed as something of great value and not to be wasted. In the Southeast, though, where water is usually in abundant supply, the recent drought is revealing the need to conserve water resources. In Georgia-the state hit hardest by the drought-residents use nearly 10 percent more water per capita than the national average (168 gallons per day versus 153 gallons per day).
While experiencing an "exceptional" drought is an experience not quite as familiar to the Southeast, it is certainly something that has stirred an ongoing conversation about water resources and the crucial need not only for immediate solutions to the current drought but also for a larger, future-focused plan for water conservation.
Water Wars
In November 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson addressed a letter to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House about assessing the nation's water resources, "A nation that fails to plan intelligently for the development and protection of its precious waters will be condemned to wither because of its shortsightedness," he wrote. "The hard lessons of history are clear, written on the deserted sands and ruins of once proud civilizations."
At a time when energy crisis was on the horizon, Johnson spoke of another potential crisis that would inevitably crash upon the nation without careful planning for the future. Nearly 30 years later, Egyptian architect, planner and vice president for sustainable development at the World Bank at the time, Ismail Serageldin echoed the call for action, "If the wars of this century were fought over oil, the wars of the next century will be fought over water."
Searching for Solutions
 While Chattanooga enjoys an abundant 9 billion gallons of water flowing by in the Tennessee River every day, Tennessee's higher altitude rural communities in the Cumberland Plateau are feeling the water squeeze. So are rapidly growing metropolitan areas like Atlanta, Georgia. Georgia residents have experienced the brunt of the Southeast's drought, with Atlanta's abundant population, expanding land development and limited water resources for meeting demand, the state is at a crossroads, according to the Georgia Water Coalition's website.
Sarah Gaines Barmeyer, water issues coordinator with the Georgia Wildlife Federation, says the Georgia Water Coalition is a collaborative effort that has developed out of a need for addressing Georgia's increasing water demands and managing the state's limited water supply.
"We are diversifying by reaching out to non-traditional allies and finding common ground," Barmeyer says of the Coalition's efforts. Working with utilities, farmers, neighborhood associations, churches, environmental groups, attorneys, businesses and nonprofits, the Georgia Water Coalition is working to educate, connect and partner in developing viable solutions for current and future water issues.
As Georgians are collaborating to find solutions to their dire water needs, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation also developed a Drought Task Force in spring 2007 to bring a diverse group of advisors to a weekly roundtable discussion dealing with drought-related concerns across the state. "We have representatives from agriculture, wildlife resources, utility districts, water pollution, Tennessee Valley Authority, the Corps of Engineers and the National Weather Service," says Nick Fielder, emergency services coordinator for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. "We anticipated what was going to happen from week to week-anticipate problems before the crisis comes and then advise people on steps to take."
The Task Force has found that rural Tennessee communities having large and dependable streams are able to evade the harshest effects of the drought, while communities that depend on smaller streams and lakes like Monteagle and the Cumberland Plateau are running into trouble with local water sources drying up during the drought. "The exceptional drought situation we are currently experiencing has caused problems for some water systems," says Tammy Heise, public information officer for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. "In general, the smaller the river or water source, the more problems we would see in a drought situation. That's why we encourage everyone to heed the requests by public water systems to conserve."
Planning Ahead
The Tennessee Drought Task Force is now anticipating summer 2008-not yet fully knowing what this year's weather patterns will bring the Southeast. "We are asking people this year, "What are you going to do differently this year in terms of water consumption?'" Fielder says. "Each community will have to come up with solutions to their dilemma, but some will be able to rely solely on conservation efforts."
How Can You Save Water?
-Water lawns only when necessary
-Check your sprinkler system for leaks and use a timer
-Plant for your climate-native and drought-tolerant plants
-Use mulch in the garden-to save moisture
-Control the flow of hoses with an automatic shut-off nozzle
-Use a pool cover to cut evaporation by as much as 90 percent
-Use a broom instead of a hose to clean sidewalks and driveways
-Wash car with bucket and sponge and use a hose with a shut-off valve
-Stop leaks before they start by disconnecting hoses and making sure outdoor faucets are turned off during cold weather
-Check your toilets for leaks
-Run full loads in the dishwasher and clothes washer
-When shopping, look for high efficiency fixtures and appliances
-Keep a pitcher of cold tap water in the refrigerator to save money from buying bottled water
-Avoid running the tap until the water is cold
-Install low flow faucet aerators and showerheads
-Shorten showers to reduce water usage
-Turn off water while brushing teeth or shaving
"From drinking and cooking to bathing and gardening-water sustains life. The average American uses approximately 153 gallons of water a day-only a gallon of which is used for drinking or cooking. Using water wisely makes the best use of this important resource and can reduce your household water bill and help protect the environment."
Resource: Tennessee American Water Company
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