Whats wrong with building water supply reservoirs? Why is the Georgia Water Coalition advocating that they be considered only as a last resort for water supply?
Many people view reservoirs as great places providing recreation, drinking water, and flood control. However, reservoirs also upset the ecological balance of river systems by creating artificial barriers to natural water flow and movement of aquatic organisms. These barriers result in increased siltation and often increased pollution downstream, since less water is available to dilute and flush out pollutant levels and to recharge groundwater aquifers. Furthermore, reservoirs can actually waste water, since the increased surface area of lakes results in higher levels of evaporation, so that water leaves the river basin and does not return. As an example, one study has found that the existence of Lake Lanier has increased water loss in its land area by 33 percent, an amount equal to the daily water supply for about 170,000 Georgia residents. [See Mary Davis, et al., Reservoirs in Georgia: Meeting Water Supply Needs While Minimizing Impacts (Gail Cowie ed., University of Georgia River Ba
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