Georgia Governor Sonny Purdue issued the following statement yesterday, as 2 separate bills moved through the Georgia General Assembly. Both bills mandate increased restrictions on Georgians’ access to water. Neither asserts the State’s right to the water in Lake Lanier.

“Both the House and Senate took major steps today towards our goal of creating a true culture of conservation in Georgia. This legislation promotes water conservation in Georgia and shows our neighbors that we are serious about being good stewards of our natural resources. Both Senator Tolleson and Representative Smith have done outstanding work putting this bill together and balancing the interests of all Georgians. I want to thank members of both parties from the General Assembly for their hard work on the legislation and I look forward to putting my signature on it once it receives final passage.”

HB 1049, Stephens (R) 164, passed by a vote of 166-5, while SB 370, Tolleson (R) 20, was unanimously adopted in the Senate. The bills are aimed at appeasing federal courts and neighboring states, eying the water in Lake Lanier, and were lobbied heavily by Purdue’s office.

In fact, HB 1049 was one of just a few bill handpicked by Speaker Ralston (R) 7 on behalf of the Governor which were allowed to be heard over the recent 2-week House recess in response to the State’s budget crisis.

One house member said this bill made the state the “toilet police”. The bills certainly do nothing to make water more accessible to Georgians, but perhaps Sonny can work out a deal with our benevolent federal lords.

In the mean time, the citizens of Georgia may want to consider how they might protect their own access, either through private wells, or basins and reservoirs. Of course, if the State would allow the feds to lay claim to Lanier, they may not stop them from coming after your well, either…