February 13, 2008

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Georgia Swimming Pool Restrictions Eased
On February 6, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue issued an order exempting outdoor swimming pools from water restrictions caused by the severe drought. Per the order, outdoor pools, spas, hot tubs and kiddie pools may be filled from April through September 2008. The governor’s action resulted from a major advocacy effort which APSP and its Region 10 Service Center Manager Teresa Christmas coordinated with the APSP Georgia chapter board, Charlie Schobel, and many other APSP members.

Earlier that day, David Rauss of Bio-Lab, Inc. and Ms. Christmas testified before the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and the Environment, on what would happen to the roughly 98,500 public and private pools in the affected area, if left unattended, from both a public health and structural point of view. About 75 pool professionals attended.

Perdue's order doesn't immediately clear the way for swimming pools, as local water providers must first sign off on the changes. But the governor said he is confident that they will.

State officials estimate there are 6,500 public and 92,000 private pools in the drought-stricken area, using about 7 million gallons of water a day between May and October. Allowing hand-watering and relaxing other restrictions amounts to an additional 80 million gallons a day. Carol Couch, who heads the state's environmental division, said it's a "modest relaxation of standards" when compared to the total water use in the region: between 800 million to 900 million gallons a day.

“Citizens should not see this as a signal the drought is over,” said Governor Perdue. “The drought remains persistent, and water conservation is our top priority.”