Georgia's drought may cause three rides to close at Six Flags Over Georgia

I'm not sure what it is like in Georgia, but here in Florida we have a lot of government run water parks popping up all over. If a private park is expected to lower water consumption it begs the question of whether or not the government run parks will face the same restrictions.

This is GOING to grow into a bigger problem. Already wondering if this won't affect the waterpark at....Visionland (?)...no, Alabama Adventure. Consider HW's issues with water and local politics, and MiA's.

In the 21st century, water IS becoming a valuable commodity - I guess I should be happy that I live on top of the aquifer. ;)

We are under "water restrictions" here in South Florida right now. Homeowners are allowed to water once per week on certain days and during certain times.

The restrictions also affect local governments when it comes to rights-of-way and so forth. There is a less restrictive rule for parks with ball fields.

But, interestingly enough, golf courses are exempt from the water restrictions. I guess a lot of politicians like to play golf.

Fill the pools with beer, it will give the local third graders something to write about.

Is it crazy to ask if salt water from the Atlantic could be used? I mean, people swim at the beach so it must be safe enough, right?!

And last I checked....the world is like 70% salt water anyway!! (no drought coming from there!)

Perhaps. But, shipping water is expensive, and it has a nasty habit of evaporating.

There is also the issue of the salt in the water causing aesthetic damage. As salt water evaporates, it leaves the salt behind. And wouldn't the splashed salt water kill the vegetation around the ride? Although, IMO it would be better to run the rides with salt water than not at all. I really do not think that rapids rides and such have to be refilled due to evaporation all that much. If they are leaky and whatnot, then I can see a problem.

I live next to Lake Erie and pay like $20 every three months for water. Dinner last night cost more than that (but the water was free!).

That makes sense because Lake Erie is freshwater. Desalinization is expensive, from what I understand.

Rollergator, The whole state of florida is a aquifer LOL Yeah they have droughts but dig six feet anywhere south of hernado and you hit water.

I was in Atlanta last weekend went to the the Aquarium and the World of Coke.Both place had signs up and all fountains and waterfalls were dry.

Also the aquarium uses gray water where it can (water recycled from air condition units)and the urinals were waterless.

There has been a lawsuit between GA (atlanta), Alabama, and Florida for nearly 20 years about how much water atlanta can use.The Army Corp of Engineers is supposed to follow their own guidelines and the judges orders but in the last few months have been ignoring their own rules and keeping the water for atlanta.They almost shut down a nuclear powerplant down river (needs a minimum flow to stay running).

That said atlanta got snow the other day and some rain so lets hope things are turning around .

---

The whole state of florida is a aquifer

---

Interesting. Aquifer must be the PC word for "swamp."

Lake Okeechobee has been near record lows since last year. And, that lake is the major source of water for South Florida, regardless of the fact that the state is a peninsula.

What is keenly forgotten is that a couple of years ago lake levels were normal. But, a threatening hurricane that turned out to be nothing cause a reaction from water management officials to release a huge amount of water. Many believe they were too trigger happy, hoping to avoid any New Orleans like fiasco with the dike. It was a miscalculation that has had lasting impacts because we have had drought conditions ever since.

A self inflicted drought? Nice. Where's that rolling-eyes-smiley when you really need it.

Atlanta has done this to themselves by over-populating an area that could only hold so many people. They are talking about getting a pipeline to the TB River and draining that. Maybe this is a good lesson for Atlanta not to drain thier only source of water.

Rapids rides actually consume quite a bit of water. Not just in the original filling process, but spilling/evaporation also.