Georgia is a state in many ways defined by water. We have been blessed with streams, rivers, wetlands and lakes, from the mountains in the north all the way to the salt marshes of the coast. And unlike most states, the majority of our rivers and streams spring into existence within our own boundaries, allowing us to manage the health and purity of our water ourselves, without having to depend on the decisions of lawmakers from other states. But can we depend on our own lawmakers to protect the health of our water supply?
Georgia's population is booming, putting a severe strain on our supply of clean water. Along with increased demand come increased threats to water quality from new construction and development taking place every day. Erosion from construction sites undermines streambanks and fills our streams and lakes with sediment. Pollutants are carried directly into creeks and rivers by stormwater runoff from all the new parking lots, rooftops and roads. This leads to more flooding, property damage and loss of recreational opportunities on our rivers and lakes. This runoff harms the environment and the economy, and also endangers the safety of our drinking water.
Stream buffers are a vital protection against these threats to clean water. Buffers are undisturbed natural areas adjacent to streams and rivers. They filter pollutants from runoff, they serve as a barrier to erosion and sedimentation, and they prevent floodwaters from damaging structures. The need for buffers has been proven. Where buffers have been lost, more pollutants are in our water and more property damage is caused by flooding.
Because buffers are so important, the state has a regulation requiring that streams feeding drinking-water supply reservoirs and intakes should be protected by buffers 100 feet wide, with an additional 50-foot setback in which impervious surfaces and septic systems aren't allowed.
Currently in the Georgia General Assembly, Senate Bill 510 represents an attempt by a special interest group to remove that protection for drinking water, by allowing development to occur within those buffers.
On Feb. 27, the Athens Banner-Herald ran a story on the bill with a headline - "Developers lose buffer battle" - that was very misleading. The article describes developers' disappointment that protection of buffers was not being weakened as much as they had hoped. The current version of the bill, however, squarely targets the buffers that protect drinking water. Among other loopholes, SB 510 in its current form would allow single-family homes - and their septic tanks - to be built as close as 25 feet to streams that feed drinking water supply reservoirs.
The bottom line is that we need to ensure our drinking water is clean and healthy by preventing pollutants from getting into it. The way to do that is to require adequate stream buffers. Our state elected officials bear much of the responsibility for the health of Georgia's water. They should be strengthening, not weakening, protections for water quality. If you agree, please contact your state senator now and tell him that he cannot allow the safety of our drinking water to be degraded. To learn more about SB 510, stream buffers, and how to get involved, please visit www.AthensGrowGreen.com.
Gavrilles and Custance are members of the Athens Grow Green Coalition board. The coalition is a non-profit organization promoting responsible community development and growth management policies and practices.
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