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**** GIT REAL TOUGH ON CRIME ****

"That man was Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Scott Ballard".

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There is no simple when drought is involved. I am always up for a good argument, but the whole "my well" defense won't, forgive the pun, hold water. The well may be yours my friend, but the water is OURS. These laws protect you as much as harm you. Your neighbor could build "his well" in such a manner as to not allow you a drop. In this case, the City is like your neighbor, only they don't have an ugly car in the driveway. Property rights are limited and always will be, otherwise you'd be arguing with the guy on the exact opposite side of the globe about how far down your land goes. Regardless, the WATER is NOT your Property, the well is. So to prove your point, feel free to destroy it at any time. Either way you decide, eventually you will grin and bare it while grabbing your ankles.

I can't believe I have to inform you folks of this, but all water not specifically contained is the property of the State. This is rain water, ground water, creeks, lakes, etc. Heck, if your dog (like my poodles) takes a leak and it crosses a property line, technically (and I know this is nit picky, but true) it is State Waters.

Water that is derived from a well comes from either the ground water tables and or aquifers. Ground water is definately not specifically contained and aquifers are what they are based on the fact that they are large masses of water underneath many properties. It is not just yours.

So all in all, the State has the right to control the water in Georgia. Georgia has decided that it will allow local municipalities the ability to control waters not affected by an EPD permit. That is what Peachtree City is doing. As Peachtree City has done in the past. Prior to the State adopting the current "Levels" rules in 2004, Peachtree City had resolutions in place saying that anyone using any "other" water source must abide by the same rules as everyone else. So where have you people been?

Fayette County Water Service has four wells throughout the county pumping water from the same sources you are getting your water from. It is not just yours.

Get over it. This is an emergency situation. Respect the need to conserve. Oh, and get your facts straight.

Then why was I forced to build a retention pond (at my expense) to contain the rainfall that belongs to the state.

If it is their water, then they should reimburse me for the pond.

Water is such a basic element to human life that most people would kill over it to live (not water our lawns) and you say we have to have permission from the government to acquire it!
Those wells the county pumps from only represent a fraction of county water usage according to the county web site;
"This capacity includes the 13.5 MGD at the Crosstown Water Plant, and an additional .825 MGD from four wells at various locations." I understand the Crosstown Water Plant processes water in transit (rivers, creeks, lakes as reservoir) so personal wells should not impact the major population parts of Fayette.

oodles is correct about the actual "ownership" of water. It's not anywhere in the law that individuals "own" water. Whether that's good or bad is up for everyone to decide, but the way it is right now, states (and subsequently, local governments on down)have every legal right to place restrictions they deem as necessary. The Feds abd Congress can also step-in as water is considered "interstate" and they do whenever they feel state(s) aren't doing what needs to be done.

One example: there are nuclear generating power plants in this country. These bad boys need LOTS of water to keep nice and cool so there isn't a Chernobyl. If one state is "hording" or diverting water away from another state that has a nuke plant that needs it, the Feds aren't going to sit around and let it happen. This is one of biggest issues in the GA-Alabama-Florida water war that has been going on for close to two decades. It also makes Gov. Perdue's "order" to the corps of engineers an example of pure grandstanding. What's he going to do if they don't "comply?"

NUK

what are we going to do if they don't comply.
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the water is for the benefit of all. Farmers have been dealing with this same issue for some time. Yes they put in their well at their expense on their land but, they can only draw so much because the local water authority limits farm consumption for the benefit of all.
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It is my understanding that water is pulled from Lake Kedron or Lake Peachtree or both into the water treament plant on Dividend Dr. I am curious to know why you think our public water supplies are contaminated. Can you give facts to back up that statement?

I don't think there is anything wrong with the water in Fayette County and the probability of the water ever being contaminated in Fayette is remote. However, I work in risk analysis and while the probability of this event is small, the impact is huge and for me and my family I'm begining to think it's worth the investment of a well as a contingency water supply. The Fayette county water supply is a single point of failure for such a basic life element. Meanwhile I've been investigating a 500-1000 gallon water tank which sounds like a lot until you think that the average person uses about 140 gallons a day unrestricted.

That well water comes from an aquifer which in itself is taxed rather heavily. This aquifer extends way beyond one's property. Can the government meter your well usage; No. But conversely, if a municipality stuck a straw in the aquifer and drained it dry the folks on wells will suffer and complain because the same municipality do not follow the stage four drought rules. We are all in this together!!!
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During the 1980s drought, all wells south of here had to be drilled 30 feet deeper to reach the water table due to people with wells drawing it out.
Wells are for not having to pay a water and sewer bill, not having water to waste during a drought!

The council is "considering" this restriction, it hasn't passed yet. So far, every council that has thought about this particular restriction on wells has decided against it.

Personally, I can see the argument for the restriction as I don't see it as infringement on anyone's liberty and water is water, regardless of where it comes from.

As far as the property rights bit...you have to be kidding. Taking that argument to the logical extreme, if I decide my house in the neighborhood shouldn't be a residence but instead a strip club, is that my "right" as a property owner? MY property, MINE!!

NUK

Resolutions were on the books from previous councils up until the new State rules were adopted that included private sources of water in PTC in the water restrictions. These sources were not included in the State rules as they specifically mention entities permitted by GA DNR EPD. So, those restrictions were lifted with the new resolution. Now, it is being thought that everyone needs to play by the same rules, as ultimtely the water all comes from the same sources. So in fact, they would be putting those restrictions BACK in place during times of emergency draught.

Seems Fair.

That is exactly what is wrong today. You are comparing apples to oranges. The two don't have anything to do with one another.

If I go to the expense to drill a well on my land (whether i am connected to municipal water or not) then it is my right as the owner AND superior possessor of the water to do with it as I please. I have a well, and if I wanted to invite you over to wash your car, then I should be able to.

The fact that any of you think that government can solve problems only reiterates the fact that we have have become a society of spineless noodles.

Government does not solve problems; they cause them.

Less government and more individualism is always the answer.

http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/gwdepletion.html

If the water you were drawing from came from only directly under your property line like a water tank and didn't affect anything beyond your property then I'd agree with you but it's not. We all need to conserve no matter what source we get our water from.

Isn't this similar to someone having a barbecue in their front yard when people are walking the streets starving?

It is not my fault that they are starving and walking down my street. They can go to work at 5:30 am and work until 5:30 pm just like I do and earn a living so that they can go to Kroger (the little one instead of Whole foods I might add) and buy some burger meat and bring it over and I will cook it on my grill.

Since when is it anyone's responsibility to feed those that will not feed themselves?

You guys kill me!!!

Don't be so sure you have full rights with the water you find in YOUR WELL - you do not own the water table that you're tapping in to.

When the water runs into the hole that was either bored or drilled by me, it is my water as long as it is in my hole.

It is just that simple!

I agree. Stop people from using reservoir (lake) water but allow the use of personal wells. The excuse that it will make it easier for the police is a pretty lame one. Maybe the city could issue signs like the ones in front of Dogwood Church that explain the water is from a well.
If the council wants to further limit our rights to use our property they first need to stop all commercial outdoor water use. The founding fathers NEVER intended for businesses to come before individuals, no matter how twisted things have gotten in this country lately.

Just because one is on a well does not exempt them from the problem. Our local aquifers are drying up also.
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Isn't it already illegal to take water from Lakes Peachtree or Kedron because thay are part of the county water system? I recall a couple of years ago, maybe more, that some property owner on Kedron was nailed for running an irrigation line from the lake to water his landscaping. Don't recall if he was fined or anything.

Is that something you can't buy on Sundays?
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Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.

This is the sort of thing that causes other people to say "to heck with it, I'll sneak around and water too."
Running their boats in our little water supply is bad enough, but this is silly.
Rights or no rights, in hard times they can be at least temporarily stopped.
Anyway, decent people wouldn't do this.