Jackie L' Jackson Chatham County Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission August 2005

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Jackie L. JacksonChatham County Savannah
Metropolitan Planning CommissionAugust 2005

• WATER, the Lifeline of the Community

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Why Am I Here Today?

• Raise Awareness of Water Quality Issues.
• Give An Overview of Chatham Countys Water
  Resources.
• Define Local Issues We Are Facing.
• Talk About Some Solutions to Water Pollution.
• Thank About Clean Water Partnerships.
• Talk About How About YOU Can Be a Solution to
  Water Pollution.

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CHATHAM COUNTYS LOCAL WATER SOURCES
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Floridan Aquifer System
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Typical Aquifer System
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Citys Groundwater System

• 41 Wells in the System
• 38 MGD Permitted Capacity
• Typical Daily Average 25 MGD

Countys Groundwater System

• 8 Systems With Total of 19 Wells
• Permitted Capacity Ranges Between 100,000 to
  200,000 MGD

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Surface Water
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Intake Plant

• Withdrawals water from Abercorn Creek a
  tributary to the Savannah River.
• It is pumped 9 miles to the I D Treatment Plant.

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Water Issues
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Local Water Issues

• Groundwater
• Concentrated Demand
• Deep cone of depression
• Saltwater Intrusion

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Groundwater Actions

• No new wells in the 24 county area and all 24
  counties on the Floridan Aquifer had to create a
  water supply plan.
• Chatham County has to reduce water withdrawal by
  10 mgd by 2005.
• Water Conservation to be encouraged.
• Year-round water restrictions now in place (Odd
  Tues. Thurs. Sund. - Even Mond., Wed., Sat.).

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Water Conservation Campaign
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City of Savannahs Benefits from
Groundwater Savings Strategies

• Total customer base in last 17 years increased by
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• Total water production from all city wells has
  remained constant over the last 17 years
• Total water leaks reduced by 65 from 3,242 leaks
  in 1981 to 1,100 leaks in 2002

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Local Water Issues

• Surface Water
• Water Quality
• Watershed Protection
• Rapid Growth
• TMDLs
• 303(d) Listed Streams
• Casey Canal, Hayners Creek, Little Ogeechee River
  Savannah Harbor
• Water Quantity
• Low flow leads to saltwater intrusion
• Need Regional Planning

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Surface Water Quality Issues

• Point Source Pollution

• Non-Point Source (NPS) Pollution

Almost 2/3 of All Pollution Can Be Directly
Attributed to NPS Pollution
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Point Sources of Pollution

• . . . are identifiable sources of pollution
  such as a pipe from a municipal or industrial
  wastewater treatment facility.

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Why Be Concerned ?

• EPA studies show that as much as 70 of all
  water pollution is caused by stormwater runoff.
  As it flows over land, stormwater picks up and
  carries a variety of materials that adversely
  affect receiving waterways via storm drains and
  canals.

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Stormwater Pollutants

• Sediment
• Bacteria (septic systems)
• Heavy Metals (industrial activities)
• Oil and Grease
• Herbicides and Pesticides
• Nutrients (fertilizers)
• Trash and Debris
• Temperature Increase

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Stormwater Runoff and Water Quality

• Because this pollution comes from many sources,
  it is referred to as nonpoint source pollution.
• Pollutants such as litter, fertilizers, residue
  from oil leaks on streets and parking lots, and
  sediment from construction sites all contribute
  to stormwater pollution, which impairs water
  quality and damages aquatic habitats.

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Sources Causes of Non-Point Source Pollution
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Where Does The Rain Go?
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THE RIVER
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What is Being Done to Increase the Public
Awareness of Chatham Countys Water Quality
Issues You Ask ???
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Community Partners For Clean Water (CPCW)

• Community Partners for Clean Water is a
  cooperative effort between the Water Resources
  Program of the MPC and local commercial and
  institutional landowners.
• The goal of this program is to promote business
  practices that help protect local streams,
  canals, rivers, and estuaries.

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Community Partners For Clean Water (CPCW)

• The CPCW program is open to all businesses,
  institutional and multi-family residential
  landowners in Chatham County
• Basically any business is welcome to participate
  if it has the potential to generate polluted
  runoff!

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How Does the Program Work?

• Participants are first provided with information
  about the effect their business can have.
• Participants then prepare a Water Quality Action
  Plan (WQAP) by identifying sources and prevention
  methods.
• Once the plan is complete and in place, the
  business is recognized as a Community Partner
  for Clean Water through local newspaper ads,
  billboards, the MPC Water Resources website,
  other media and community events!
• And thats it!!!!

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Community Partners For Clean Water (CPCW)

• And it is all free to participating
  businesses!!! .Thats right.

Theres no cost to you!!!
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Possible CPCW Partners

• Industry
• Landscape Facilities
• Storage and Handling Facilities
• Equipment Maintenance and Washing Facilities
• Building and Facade Maintenance Groups

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• Some other Community Involvement Programs
  Throughout Chatham County

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Stormwater Awareness Campaign
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Adopt-A-Stream

• Watershed Walk
• Visual Surveys
• Biological/Chemical Monitoring
• Cleanups

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Rivers
Alive 2004
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Storm Drain Marking Program
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EARTH
DAY 2004
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Earth Day 2005Saturday, April 16, 2005 from
1100 - 300 _at_ Forsyth ParkCome Help Support
Your Community!!!!
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• Our streams, rivers and marshes are now more
  attractive than ever as a place to live.

As Southeast Georgia experiences a phenomenal
growth in population and business, the other
elements of growth come along too.
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• The good news is that there is still hope for
  Georgias urban water systems.
• Nonpoint source pollution isnt an inevitable
  consequence of growth and development!

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• Questions ?

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Contact Information
Jackie L. Jackson Chatham County Savannah
Metropolitan Planning Commission Water Resources
Planner 110 East State Street Savannah, GA
31401 912-651-1454 912-651-1480
(Fax) jjackson_at_thempc.org