|
|||
District Board Elects New Chair and Vice Chair
|
|||
 |
|||
Metro Water District Kicked Off “I’m In” Campaign at E. Rivers Elementary SchoolThe Metro Water District recently kicked off the “I’m In” Water Conservation Campaign at E. Rivers Elementary School. One hundred Atlanta third-graders participated in the campaign roll-out by pledging to conserve water and symbolically joining “in” the campaign with their handprints on a banner that will be permanently displayed at school. Katie Kirkpatrick, representing the Metro Water District Board; Tad Leithead, Atlanta Regional Commission chairman; and Laura Turner Seydel, national environmental activist and Captain Planet Foundation chairperson, joined the children by taking part in the event. Singer-songwriter and Pine Lake City Council Member Melanie Hammet led the students and guests in a sing-along of “Every Drop Counts,” written especially for the occasion. Several of the region’s water conservation mascots, including Atlanta’s Chatty and Hooch, Gainesville’s Captain Conservation and Idbid’s Waverly, joined the fun. Don’t forget to make your water conservation pledge today and encourage others to do the same at www.mydropcounts.org.
|
|||
|
|||
Basin Advisory Councils (BACs) Learn About Water Education Efforts in the DistrictThe main focus of the most recent meetings of the Basin Advisory Councils was education. Panels representing local government, schools, and nonprofit organizations discussed what is being done in each basin to inform students and the public about the importance of water resources. In addition to the panel discussion, each council reviewed the Water Metrics Report, the draft WaterSense New Homes Conservation Measure and the District-driven Multifamily Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) education materials. Members also toured facilities that provide community education about water resources, including Enota Multiple Intelligences’ Smartville Gardens, the Upper Etowah River Alliance headquarters, the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center and Arabia Mountain High School. For more information regarding the District’s Basin Advisory Councils or to view agendas and summaries of past meetings, please visit the Metro Water District website or contact Sarah Simmons at ssimmons@atlantaregional.com.
|
|||
|
|||
2011 BAC Membership Drive Yields Great ResponseSix Basin Advisory Councils play an important role in the work of the Metro Water District. Members represent diverse interests in each basin to ensure that area residents, property owners, businesses and others have the opportunity to provide input into the District’s activities and plans. That’s why the District recently completed a two-month long membership drive that brings 90 new individuals into the water planning process. They join the more than 100 persons who have chosen to continue to serve on a council. District staff targeted specific industries and areas of interest that have a stake in water resources in order to ensure a diverse and well- balanced membership in each of the basins. The District welcomes the new members and extends its thanks to current BAC members who helped recruit new members for the councils. All six councils will participate in a joint meeting on July 22 at the Loudermilk Conference Center Ballroom, 40 Courtland St, Atlanta, GA 30303. |
|||
|
|||
Board Representation ChangeCherokee County and Henry County now have permanent seats on the Metro Water District board. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Cherokee and Henry counties each now exceeds 200,000. As prescribed by state law, if a county within the District has more than 200,000 people, then the chair of the county commission becomes a member of the governing board. With this change, the Honorable Elizabeth Mathis, Henry County chair, and the Honorable Buzz Ahrens, Cherokee County chair, also join Metro Water District’s executive committee. In counties that have a population of less than 200,000, the commission chair and a mayor serve alternating three-year terms. |
|||
|
|||
|
|||
|
|||
State Water Planning Draft Plans ReleasedThe Water Planning Councils around the state have released their recommended regional water plans for public comment. The plans are available on the following website: www.georgiawaterplanning.org. The public comment period ends June 23, 2011. The EPD Director plans to adopt the final plans in September. |
|||
|
|||
Georgia Power Announces Plans to Develop a Water Research CenterGeorgia Power President and CEO Paul Bowers recently announced that the company will establish an innovative research facility to develop and test water conservation technologies at Georgia Power’s Plant Bowen, near Cartersville, GA. Georgia Power is collaborating with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) to develop the Water Research Center (WRC), which will provide a venue for developing and testing technologies to improve water efficiency by addressing withdrawal, consumption and recycling throughout the power generation process. The center will focus on seven areas: moisture recovery, cooling tower and advanced cooling systems, zero liquid discharge options, low-volume wastewater treatment, solid waste landfill water management, carbon technology water issues; and water modeling, monitoring and best management practice. The center will be operated by the Southern Research Institute and may also be used to educate students and community leaders about the importance of water conservation. The WRC is expected to be fully operational by August 2012. For more information, contact Georgia Power Media Relations at 404.506.7676 or visit www.georgiapower.com. |
|||
|
The Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District’s governing board recently elected Mayor Boyd Austin of Dallas as its new chairman. Citizen member Katie Kirkpatrick of the Metro Atlanta Chamber was elected vice chair. Both will serve three-year terms. Mayor Austin, who has served on the governing board since 2003, including a year as vice chair, succeeds Kit Dunlap, president of the Greater Hall County Chamber of Commerce, who completed two terms as the district chair. She will continue to serve on the board as a citizen member.
Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District • 40 Courtland Street • Atlanta, Georgia 30303 • www.northgeorgiawater.org