Take Me To Post Comment Form What part of the word "drought" does the state not understand?

Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and other Georgia officials have proposed easing certain restrictions on outdoor watering. This would be beneficial to industries that have been severely hurt by the drought, such as landscaping businesses.

That's all well and good. But where is this extra water going to come from?

By all indications, the drought is soon going to get worse, not better. Recent rains have allowed Lake Lanier to hold steady at about 1,051 feet, but the lake needs to spend the winter refilling, not simply maintaining the status quo. As soon as the weather gets warmer, lakes will start losing substantial amounts of water to evaporation. Then in spring, as plants and trees begin to grow again, vegetation will be drawing more moisture out of the soil.

State climatologist David Stooksbury says there's little hope of the drought breaking anytime soon. If we start the summer season with Lake Lanier already at 1,050 or below, things could get so bad that the drought of 2007 will pale by comparison.

Knowing that we may be facing that situation, we should be conserving every drop, not giving people more freedom to use water. Yes, the drought has been devastating for many people, including landscapers, farmers, and people who work in the boating industry. But in dire circumstances, Georgia officials should give priority to essential water needs, such as for drinking. It is sad to contemplate a summer without boating or swimming or beautiful gardens, but if we are in the middle of a natural disaster, we need to be realistic about what we can and can't do.

If we are pleasantly surprised this spring by unusually large amounts of rainfall, then by all means we should help out those who are suffering from the drought. But as things stand right now, we just can't afford to be lenient about water use.