Gainesville on target with water use reduction

GAINESVILLE - Gainesville is on target with the state's mandated ten percent water use reduction because of the drought.

That announcement came Thursday from Public Utilities Director Kelly Randall.

Randall told City Council he met Wednesday with the Environmental Protection Division in Atlanta seeking a higher target number only to find out that Gainesville has met the required 15.8 million gallons a day.

"We're already meeting the number," Randall said. "Our citizens have really responded and we're meeting the target number."

Randall credited consumer conservation of both inside and outside water use for meeting the state's target,a target that will remain as long as the drought continues.

ADDITIONAL WATER SOURCE

City Council reviewed a $300,000 funding resolution for a water system planning update brought on by the drought that includes tying on to an additional water resource.

That resource is Cedar Creek Reservoir in Northeast Hall County according to Public Utilities Director Kelly Randall.

"We really want to look at how we need to integrate the Cedar Creek Reservoir into the Gainesville/Hall County water system," Randall said.

Randall said the city could pump water from the reservoir in the Oconee River basin directly to Gainesville or build a water treatment plant there, depending on the cost.

SEWER VS SEPTIC TANKS

Housing Developers using sewer systems instead of septic tanks could get quicker future approval from Gainesville City Council because wastewater can be treated and returned to Lake Lanier.

City Manager Bryan Shuler said that might include subdivisions with community septic systems.

"A community system with pipes in the ground ready to be connected into the sewer system makes it more feasible for that to happen in the future," Shuler said.

At their next regular meeting, Council is set to vote on annexing Cleveland Highway LLC's 18 single family homes with a community wastewater system.

Planning and Appeals Board members recommended the annexation at their mid-November session over opposition from neighboring homeowners.