Thank you for accessing Georgia's Water Resources Toolkit for Local Governments.  The Toolkit is the result of an innovative collaboration between the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Georgia Municipal Association, and the Water Systems Council.

Water resource management in Georgia is entering a period of unprecedented activity. Responding to critical issues such as the recent drought, intense urban development, stormwater and nonpoint source pollution, interstate water disputes, limitations on water withdrawal and discharge, and total maximum daily loads (TMDLs), local officials are being called into action. By necessity, the management of water resources must take place at the local level. While addressing numerous regulatory requirements and legal challenges, local governments are relied upon to provide safe drinking water and wastewater treatment services. Local officials have the responsibility and duty to oversee land use planning, development, and quality of life issues in their community.

The water resource management issues facing local governments today are immense. The Water Resources Toolkit for Local Governments Web site brings together a wide variety of useful information to help address these issues. It is a basic educational tool for local officials and employees new to water resource management and because of its comprehensive nature, the Toolkit is also a valuable resource for elected officials and water resource staff already familiar with water management concerns.

This Web site pulls together a wealth of resources prepared to help local government officials address water management issues and relies heavily upon the resources found on the Internet. This site will provide the user access to the most current regulatory, educational, and decision support information available. This site provides the user with a brief introduction to the issues as well as links to additional information. It would be impossible to provide sufficient printed information to adequately cover all the topics that are presented in the site.

We hope that you will find this information useful for your own work and for educating members of your community about important water resource management issues.