3.0 Georgia's Water Resources

We cannot effectively plan for and manage what we do not properly measure. Better technical information about Georgia’s water resources is necessary to ensure sustainable management. What are the capacities of our water resources?

The state’s waters support a range of uses and provide a variety of benefits. These include benefits from water withdrawn for household, commercial, industrial, and agricultural use, among others. Surface waters also provide benefits through uses that occur within the banks of streams, rivers, and lakes. These instream uses include dilution and processing of wastewater, boating, fishing, and other uses.

To improve information on the long-term capacity of Georgia’s waters to support all these uses, EPD modeled responses of water resources to a range of demands. Results were compared with thresholds that indicate unacceptable impacts. The models determined if demands for water consumption and wastewater discharge can be met without violating the thresholds. The results helped Councils identify areas where management actions will be needed to ensure long-term sustainability.

Models were developed to assess groundwater availability, surface water availability, and surface water quality. Results for current conditions were generally consistent with the observations of water users and managers in each region, demonstrating the models’ value as tools for assessment of future conditions and alternatives. Council members reviewed the results and provided input to further enhance the models’ value as assessment tools.