Water Conservation & Outdoor Water Resources

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Water Conservation Resources

The City of Gainesville Public Utilities Department has been completing environmental monitoring and public education around our water resources since 1987. Since the program’s inception, the city has won numerous awards and recognitions including being certified in 2008 as a ‘WaterFirst’ Community.  The City of Gainesville is one of only eighteen municipalities to receive this prestigious title.

Why Is Conserving and Protecting our Water Important?

The City of Gainesville currently provides 17.1 million gallons of water a day on average from Lake Lanier to residents of Gainesville and Hall County.  By 2030, the area’s population is projected to almost double. With the projected increases in demand, we must conserve our water to ensure an adequate supply in the future. We are also working to keep our water supply clean and free from contaminants while maintaining healthy aquatic habitat in our rivers and streams, which flow into Lake Lanier. Eighty percent of the pollutants found in our waterways are from non-point sources or storm water runoff. Each time it rains, water runs off surfaces (such as roads, parking lots and lawns) and goes into storm drains that lead directly to our waterways, without treatment.  This storm water carries with it fertilizers, trash, oil and various other pollutants. Through monitoring, education and community involvement, we are working to protect and conserve our most precious resource - WATER.

Available Programs

The City of Gainesville Environmental Services Division offers many programs that are available to all city and county residents and customers.

Environmental Monitoring

Each week, Environmental Specialists perform visual inspections along area streams and routinely collect chemical data. This information allows the City to assess the health of our waterways and address any sources of pollution that might be present. Most importantly, this monitoring allows the City to quickly know if there is a problem.

• Adopt-a-Stream Program- This state-wide program allows community groups of all ages to receive chemical, biological and visual training to ‘adopt’ any stream or stream segment that is not currently being monitored. After training, groups can monitor their waterway throughout the year to ensure that it remains healthy.
• Annual Stream Cleanup- Each year, a stream cleanup is held at various sites to remove litter and other debris that have been thrown or washed into the waterways. In the past, shopping carts, tires, car parts and even toilets have been found.

Education Programs

• Presentations in Local Schools and Community Groups – Each year, over 200 presentations are given to classrooms and community groups. Presentations are offered to all ages and can be tailored to any curriculum or agenda. In the past, lessons have been given on water conservation, environmental assessments, storm water pollution, and the water and wastewater treatment process. These lessons can be hands on or lecture based.
• Conservation Crusader- Gainesville’s very own superhero. Conservation Crusader visits elementary students and adult groups to spread the word about the importance of water conservation. He can even be seen around town from time to time.
• Storm Drain Stenciling- Environmental Specialists accompany citizen groups to spray paint “no dumping drains to stream” (In English and Spanish) signs on area storm drains. These drains are not treated before they discharge into streams and these signs act as a reminder that waste should not be poured down the drains.
• Drinking Water and Water Reclamation Facility Tours- These group tours offer a firsthand look into how your drinking water or waste water is treated.

Water Conservation Programs

• Rain Barrel Workshops- Rain barrels are 55 gallon drums that catch rain water for outdoor use. A rain barrel workshop is a chance to learn how to install and use a rain barrel and get your very own to use at home. A rain barrel workshop is scheduled for Thursday July 25, 2013 at 6pm. The barrels are $25 dollars each. If you would like a barrel before the July workshop an individual meeting time can be set up Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm. To register for the workshop and reserve your barrel, please contact Jennifer Flowers at jflowers@gainesville.org or call 770-532-7462.
• Find-a-Leak Workshop Available Online - In the City of Gainesville area, approximately 2,300 homes have hidden water leaks, wasting roughly 1 million gallons of water daily! Water bill increase unexpectedly? You may have a leak. Watch the find-a-leak workshop online to determine if and where you have a hidden water leak. Step-by-step instructions are also available to walk you through your home. You can find them here.
• Home and Commercial Water Assessments- These free assessments are available to all residential and commercial customers. A Water Conservation Specialist will come to your home or business and determine how much water is currently being used and how water can be conserved. Save water and money by having your faucet aerators, toilets, showerheads, and possible leaks assessed.
• Toilet Rebate Program-Participate in North Georgia’s first Plumbing Retrofit Program. Any single-family residential customer, whose home was built prior to 1993, can replace older model toilets with new water efficient models and receive a 75 dollar credit per toilet replaced. The credit is applied to the applicant’s City of Gainesville water bill. Beginning January 1, 2011, only high efficiency toilets that are 1.28 gallon per flush (gpf) or less will be eligible for the credit. Rebate applications must be accompanied with an original receipt. Please see application for complete details.If a family of four each flush the toilet four times a day and replace one 3.5 gpf toilet with a 1.28 gpf toilet, they can save approximately 35 gallons of water a day or 12,775 gallons a year.
• NEW! Multi-Family/Commercial Toilet Rebate Program- To participate in this rebate program, please see the requirements information sheet HERE.

Want to get involved? Schedule an educational presentation, water assessment for your home or business, take part in a rain barrel workshop, become a part of Adopt- a-Stream, attend the cleanup, or host Conservation Crusader. Please contact the Environmental Services Program at 770-532-7462 or email jflowers@gainesville.org  for more information on the programs that are offered.  Don’t see exactly what you are looking for? We still may be able to help.
 

Noticed anyone violating the outdoor water restrictions/outdoor watering schedule? You can help make sure water is being used wisely by reporting the violation to our Water Violators Hotline. Please call 770-533-5871 or email waterviolators@gainesville.org.