Atlanta Already Making Significant Progress In Water Reduction
During Monday’s Atlanta City Council meeting, Robert Hunter, Department of Watershed Management (DWM) Commissioner, presented statistics that show Atlanta’s water conservation message has been effective with overall water consumption dropping by 7 percent in the first four days of November.
Last week, the governor mandated that municipalities reduce water consumption by 10 percent. Atlanta’s average water production number for the first four days of November 2007 was 98.53 million gallons per day (mgd). This represents a reduction of approximately 7 percent over the same period last year when Atlantans used 105.9 mgd.
Though the number of accounts billed has risen from 158,960 in October 2006 to 183,405 in October 2007, usage has declined from 662.2 gallons per day per account to 537.2 gallons per day per account – a reduction of 129 gallons or 19.4 percent.
The City’s average winter usage is approximately 102 million gallons a day. Mayor Shirley Franklin has set a usage goal of 91.5 million gallons a day and is urging all Atlantans to take conservation efforts very seriously. “We’re all in this together,” Mayor Franklin said.
To get to the 10-percent goal, Mayor Franklin and Hunter introduced the following additional water-saving measures for residential, industrial and commercial water customers:
- A $1 million ultra-low-flow toilet rebate program in conjunction with the ARC and Home Depot. Bathrooms consume the most water than any other room in the house; replacing old toilets that leak water will help drastically to conserve water. The City is also working on drafting legislation that will require home sellers to replace antiquated toilets with the retro-fits.
- A customer conservation workshop in cooperation with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division aimed at the City’s 50 largest users will be held on Monday, November 19. Check www.atlantawatershed.org for event details.
- Institution of a policy of just one landscaping exemption per property.
- Cancellation of the irrigation meter sales.
- A policy under which pool construction will be permitted, but completed pools cannot be filled.
- Funding of conservation audits for large users. Visit here for updates on Atlanta’s response to the Georgia drought.
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Water Conservation is Not New Concept for the City of Atlanta
The City of Atlanta water infrastructure improvement program – a component of the $1 billion Clean Water Atlanta sewer overhaul – has spent over $30 million since 2002 replacing and repairing meters, identifying and repairing leaks, and replacing antiquated water mains.
The Level 4 drought currently plaguing North Georgia has made everyone stop and take stock of how much water we use daily. The City of Atlanta will continue to explore new ways to conserve, however, the water infrastructure improvement program is a success story that, upon its completion in 2014, will leave Atlanta with water infrastructure that will last well into the future.
The Department of Watershed Management (DWM) has replaced water mains in several Atlanta communities including Bankhead, Capitol View, Garden Hills, Bouldercrest, Virginia-Highland and Spring Street. In September, DWM replaced 20 miles of water pipe in the Greensferry, McDaniel and Stockade communities. In total, the City has replaced 55 miles of water mains and will have replaced over 130 miles by the time the program is complete.
Additionally, Atlanta is one year into the three-year, $35 million Automated Meter Reading (AMR) program. Almost all of the City’s 150,000 meters in the drinking water system have been replaced and armed with AMR technology, which allows meters to be read remotely and ensure accurate billing.
Finally, Atlanta is repairing leaks at a rate of about 800 a month. This is in comparison to about 700 leak repairs per year when the system was under private operation.
“Atlanta is doing its part to conserve,” said Rob Hunter, DWM Commissioner. “We are not just talking about it. We are spending $1 billion on it. And we continue to challenge our customers to look for new ways to protect our water resources.”
Visit here for Clean Water Atlanta Updates.
A water main is replaced in the Virginia-Highland community as part of the Clean Water Atlanta infrastructure improvement program. |
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Atlanta Begins First-Ever Citywide Transportation Plan
Today the City of Atlanta took another major step toward becoming a world-class city with the launch of Connect Atlanta, the city’s first comprehensive plan (CTP) to address transportation and commuter needs to, from and within the city limits.
In more than 160 years, Atlanta has never had a citywide plan that addressed the transportation needs of its residents, workforce or visitors. All modes of transport are being considered - including roadways, air, transit, freight, bicycles, and walking trails.
Mayor Shirley Franklin joined the Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) and other planning and green space organizations in City Hall to announce the plan and hold a public forum. The first phase of the CTP is a year-long public involvement plan (PIP). The City will rely on stakeholders to provide input to create a long-term plan that meets the transportation needs of Atlanta communities. DPCD is currently seeking Stakeholder Committee members.
Atlanta has been a leader is some of the region’s most visionary projects – including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (HJAIA), the BeltLine, development of the Peachtree Corridor and MARTA. Connect Atlanta will guide the next 25 years of transportation policy and investment in ways that advance Atlanta’s larger vision of creating a vibrant and sustainable city.
For more information, visit www.connectatlantaplan.com.
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Airport General Manager Pilots Hartsfield-Jackson to New Heights
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (HJAIA) General Manager Ben DeCosta has been awarded the prestigious “2007 Director of the Year” honor by Airport Revenue News (ARN) for steering HJAIA to world class heights.
ARN covers revenue-generating and cost-containment issues of the airport industry. In his nine-year tenure, DeCosta has steadfastly led HJAIA to best-in-class standards. Key accomplishments include a multi-billion-dollar Capital Improvement Program; oversight of completion of a new fifth runway; launch of a Hold Baggage Screening (HBS) system to decrease baggage-related congestion; and implementation of an improved customer service program.
DeCosta has helped to grow non-aviation revenue by more than 35 percent since 1993 by utilizing innovative funding sources, including parking and Wi-Fi. HJAIA is the main destination for international dignitaries who pass through Atlanta. Completion of the anticipated International Terminal will continue to make Atlanta the world’s best airport.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport serves more than 230,000 passengers a day. In 2007, HJAIA was named “world’s busiest airport”. HJAIA is the principal air carrier airport serving Georgia and the Southeastern United States and serves as a primary transfer point in the national air transportation system. For more information, please visit www.atlanta-airport.com.
Ben DeCosta, HJAIA General Manager, was the recipient of Airport Revenue News’ 2007 Director of the Year honor. |
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Community Court Program Gives Addicted Women a Second Chance
In Suite 4SE at the Atlanta City Detention Center, Debra Rasouliyan and the Women for Women (W4W) program treatment team are making a difference in the lives of drug and alcohol addicted women.
W4W gives drug and alcohol-addicted women a second chance. W4W is a relapse prevention program created by Rasouliyan in 1999 and administered through the Community Court, a division of the Municipal Court of Atlanta. Instead of facing years of jail time, female defendants who repeatedly appear before the Atlanta Municipal and Fulton County Courts - and are identified as having a substance abuse problem - are mandated to attend the program as a last resort.
W4W addresses recidivism through daily treatment programs like Narcotics and Alcohol Anonymous; 12-step methods; spirituality counseling; and music therapy. For six to seven months, anywhere from 16-23 women are enrolled in the program at a time. Program graduates move to residential after-care for follow-up treatment.
Last week, W4W celebrated 16 women in recovery. Former W4W graduates donned purple sashes and gave personal testimonies of recovery. Atlanta Judges Clinton Deveaux and Crystal Gaines, Corrections Chief Frank C. Sizer and Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Doris Downs spoke words of encouragement. Community and mental health partners also attended in solidarity.
“W4W is a proven success. Graduates have gone on to get degrees, open businesses, become advocates for addiction and homelessness and much more. Armed with transition and life skills, they reconnect with family and friends and become advocates for a life without crime and addiction,” said Rasouliyan.
For more information, click here.
Past participants in the Women for Women (W4W) are recognized for maintaining sobriety from drugs and alcohol. |
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That was the message Mayor Shirley Franklin and the Department of Watershed Management (DWM) sent to the nearly 1 million water customers that the City of Atlanta serves daily. To cut City of Atlanta water consumption by 10 percent, DWM has proposed a series of conservation options for water customers, including a retrofit rebate program in partnership with Home Depot and the Atlanta Regional Commission. Click here to go to Video On Demand (VOD) webpage to watch the news conference.
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Rave Reviews!
- The City of Atlanta was recently recognized by the National Campaign for Play as one of America’s 31 “Most Playful Cities” for its vision, plan and commitment to creating a recreation agenda for youth of all capabilities. Among the attributes that reflect a great city, key among them are greenspaces and opportunities for children. Creating and sustaining a recreation agenda impacts childhood obesity, public safety, and quality-of-life. The “KaBOOM! National Campaign for Play” and the “Playful City USA” initiative has honored Atlanta for devoting funds, creating public-private partnerships and creating a recreation agenda that will have a deep and lasting impact on public policy. This is an extraordinary accomplishment for the City of Atlanta. In 2005, City playgrounds received a less than favorable rating by the Keenan Kids Foundation. “The City of Atlanta has wonderful parks and recreational programming – including two Boundless Playgrounds for children with special needs. This honor exemplifies the City’s commitment to making play spaces universally accessible and developmentally advantageous for all children,” said Dianne Harnell Cohen, DPRCA commissioner.
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Upcoming Events & Volunteer Opportunities
- The Atlanta Workforce Development Agency (AWDA) is seeking volunteers for “Help the Homeless: A Day of Service,” on Saturday November 17 from 8 am – 1 pm at the Hands On Atlanta headquarters. Volunteers will be trained to serve as year-round mentors to homeless men and women involved in AWDA’s New Beginnings program, which provides job search support and direction to individuals who have been identified as long-term homeless. For more information, call 404.527.7314 or email gdacosta@unitedwayatlanta.org. For more information about New Beginnings, click here.
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Job Announcements
With the City of Atlanta’s online application system, you are able to create an account and select a Username and Password and then log in to your account.
After your account has been established, you can create an application by clicking on the “Build Job Application” link. Once your application is completed, it will be stored in the system and can be used to apply for future job openings. To get started by viewing current open positions, click here.
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Weekly Features
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