Coastal Water Study

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) has completed a plan to manage the water resources of the state’s coastal region. The “Coastal Georgia Water and Wastewater Permitting Plan for Managing Saltwater Intrusion” is based on the scientific findings of a seven-year study of groundwater use in the 24-county coastal area. The study is called the Sound Science Initiative and was done to address the concern that pumping of groundwater in the region is allowing salt water to seep into the Floridan aquifer, a principal source of drinking water.

These links lead to a copy of the new management plan, an earlier draft of the management plan and to presentations from public meetings that explain the findings of the Sound Science Initiative.

Coastal Sound Science Initiative Modeling of Salt Water Intrusion: Conclusions About Salt Water Intrusion Into The Upper Floridan Aquifer in Coastal Georgia and South Carolina

Saltwater Contamination in the Savannah-Hilton Head Island Area, Coastal Sound Science Initiative

Coastal Georgia Water and Wastewater Permitting Plan for Managing Saltwater Intrusion

Coastal Permitting Plan Guidance Documents

Introduction - September 2007

Method for Determining Future Water Demand Needs for Public/Private Water Systems - August 2007

Historic Water Usage For Large Public/Private Systems

Projected Future Usage For Large Water Providers

Water Usage for Small Systems

Method for Determining Future Water Demand Needs for Industrial Systems

Method for Determining Future Water Demand Needs for Golf Course Systems

Alternate Water Sources

Reuse Feasibility Analysis

Adoption and Implementation of Outdoor Water Schedules

Conservation-Oriented Rate Structures

Conservation Education

Water Loss Control

Water Leak Detection and Repair

Water Meter Calibration, Repair, and Replacement

Water Audits

Draft Coastal Georgia Water and Wastewater Permitting Plan for Managing Saltwater Intrusion

What have we learned from the Sound Science Initiative by Nap Caldwell, EPD Senior Planning and Policy Advisor on Water (summary of presentation to the August 2-11, 2005 public meetings)

Georgia Coastal Sound Science Initiative 2005-What have we learned? by John S. Clarke, USGS, Georgia Water Science Center (PowerPoint presentation to the Coastal Georgia Sound Science Initiative Legislative Study Committee, May 2005)

Alternative Water Supplies in the 24-County Coastal Area of Georgia by Katherine Zitsch, CDM (Camp Dresser & McKee Inc.) (PowerPoint presentation to the August 2-11, 2005 public meetings)

Technical Advisory Committee

Sound Science Initiative Bibliography

Coastal Georgia Water & Wastewater Permitting Plan for Managing Salt Water Intrusion by Sue Grunwald, EPD Planning & Policy Advisor (PowerPoint presentation to the 2007 Georgia Water Resources Conference)