1. Conservation and Efficiency
Protecting the integrity of our community

2. Water Supply

6. Key Climate Findings in the SE Region
Sea level rise poses widespread and continuing threats to both natural and built environments and to the regional economy.
Increasing temperatures and the associated increase in frequency, intensity, and duration of extreme heat events will affect public health, natural and built environments, energy, agriculture, and forestry.
Decreased water availability, exacerbated by population growth and land-use change, will continue to increase competition for water and affect the region’s economy and unique ecosystems.

7. Climate Report Water Availability

8. Real Impacts to Watersheds
According to a University of Wisconsin –Madison Study on the impact of land use, it is a key factor in future health of watersheds
Watersheds provide vital goods and services to a community
Every crop planted and every paved cul-de-sac completely changes how water moves over land
According to the study urbanization in the southeast is set to increase exponentially and will have a negative impact on aquatic species
If no changes are made to current development practices 34% of the US watersheds will be impacted, a significant portion of those in the Southeast

9. Water Lifecycle

10. Why does this matter?

11. Water Challenges Surface Water Systems – highly vulnerable to climate
Water Quality cocerns
Increasing water costs
Expensive Infrastructure improvements needed
Increasing population
Legal Challenges

12. Need a New Paradigm

13. of Innovation

14. Conservation Apocalypse
We sell water! Have to increase rates!
Can’t tell people what to do!
It rains here all the time!
What is the benefit?
Who is going to do this?
How do we pay for it?
Legionnaires Disease, Sewer Back Ups, plumbing failure, water quality issues

15. Demand Management

16. What Does a Water Efficient Future Look Like?

17. It Makes WaterSense

18. Engaging in Dialogue

20. Task Ahead

21. Operational Efficiency

22. Cobb County Water System
Thank You Questions?
Kathy Nguyen
Sr. Project Manager
Cobb County Water System