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Proclaiming the Georgia Water Bill of Rights; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, the surface and ground waters of the State of Georgia are public resources and are vital areas held by the state as a trustee charged with the duty to manage these waters in the best interests of the public; and

WHEREAS, the quantity, quality, and reliability of Georgia waters shall be protected so that the human use of water does not compromise the long-term sustainability of aquatic and associated ecosystems; and all Georgians are responsible for the integrity of state waters, and the costs of providing and protecting these resources must be fairly allocated among users; and

WHEREAS, each Georgian has the right to expect that the waters of the state on and below the surface of the earth will be utilized, conserved, and maintained as a perpetual blessing to the state´s citizens and ecological system; and

WHEREAS, management of the state´s water resources must ensure the integrity of these resources by acknowledging the natural flow of waters through the watersheds and aquifers, from the mountains to the sea; and

WHEREAS, clean surface water and pure ground water are essential to Georgians´ health, welfare, and prosperity, and Georgians recognize that clean water is vital to sustainable economic progress and a healthy economy; and

WHEREAS, no person or community should bear a disproportionate share of the burden resulting from the water use of others; and

WHEREAS, all Georgians have the right to use the surface and ground-water resources on their properties, but the use must be reasonable in manner to the extent that the water supply is protected for the health of people and wildlife; and

WHEREAS, Georgians have the right to the full, timely, and equitable enforcement of local, state, and federal environmental laws, which rightfully require protection of water quality and all life dependent on that quality; and

WHEREAS, all decisions by government officials, the public trustees of Georgia´s waters, shall be made in open forums, after full disclosure through public discussion and deliberation of all scientific, political, and economic facts and associated impacts; and

WHEREAS, our government is and shall be held accountable for the proper management of Georgia´s waters.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body declare the foregoing provisions to be the Georgia Water Bill of Rights which shall inform and guide water policy decisions in the State of Georgia, and this resolution shall not have the force of law.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the public and the press.