The rain washes surface material, such as dirt and petroleum products, into the surrounding streams. This causes high levels of particulate material and chemicals in Georgia streams. Streams are important sources of drinking water, irrigation water and wildlife habitat. Development should occur in a manner to ensure clean water entering Georgia streams. Rain water also washes the pollutants from the air before they enter the water-ways.
Vegetative areas are essential to filter the water before it enters watersheds.
To manage run-off water quality, we must also manage that amount and location of Green Spaces in developing urban areas. Cleaning water through vegetative filters helps avoid the higher cost of artificial filtration. Altered Weather Patterns. The time to take steps to prevent this is at the early stages of growth in a city. In Georgia, middle size cities, such as Albany, Macon and Augusta, and smaller cities, such as Valdosta and Dalton, should implement conservation measures now.