WILL WE HAVE A WATER CRISIS IN THE FUTURE?

We may take it for granted, but over the last half-century, water use in the state of Alabama has increased by over 150 percent...and experts say that usage and demand is still on the rise. A number of local leaders met yesterday, to hear proposals on how to address what is quickly becoming a water crisis. In the year of 2002, a partnership was formed with fourteen wiregrass cities and communities from Coffee, Dale and Houston counties....and the partners asked for an analysis of the water shortage. They were given the best alternative, so who will implant the plan? The agencies selections, and they have five options: 1-Direct withdrawal which is ineffective during drought seasons. 2-Choosing to conserve water which depends on consumers and requires mass education but won`t fix the problem. 3-Additional groundwater, but is only a short term solution. 4-Modifying exisiting reservoirs..is costly, and doesn`t permanently fix the problem. Or, the partners could choose the recommendation made by the Watershed Management Authority. The grant total has some asking questions, and although state legislators and partners on the water team are committed to supplying water for the future, they haven`t decided on how that will be done. That partnership was formed among the cities and communities who have the most "immediate need", which are Dale, Coffee and Houston counties...but other wiregrass areas are facing the same problem.