City Profiles / Medium Cities / Athens, GA

Athens, Georgia

Water conservation has been a major challenge for this northeast Georgia city, which relies almost entirely on surface water and has struggled with overdevelopment and an ongoing drought that has reached 50-year extremes and drained the Middle Oconee River to historical lows. To preserve water, in addition to restricting outdoor water use and promoting voluntary conservation, Athens-Clarke County instituted a conservation water rate structure that is led by a public and private water conservation committee. It is pursuing code changes that promote using captured rainwater, greywater (residential wastewater produced by showers, bathroom sinks, dishwashers and washing machines) and recycled water for non-potable uses, like irrigation. To protect water quality, the city is implementing stormwater management practices largely funded by a user fee based on the amount of impervious surface on a property. Impervious surfaces contribute to the runoff of pollutants—like petroleum and chemicals—into streams and rivers.

The city was the first in the state to establish curbside recycling in 1988 and has a "pay-as-you-throw" policy for commercial and residential waste—so those who trash more pay more, while those who conserve pay less. In January 2009, Athens hosted its first Green Life Expo to further educate the community on recycling, as well as on carbon reduction and conservation practices.

The Athens Land Trust—a private, nonprofit community land trust—protects land through conservation easements, creates energy-efficient and affordable housing, and revitalizes ailing neighborhoods. And in a town known for its music scene, native band R.E.M. has had a significant social and environmental impact on the community, funding and speaking out on behalf of a host of local nonprofits and preservation efforts, and initiating environmental awareness in the city.