Drought drives water conservation efforts in Southeast: Atlanta-area operators enact stricter liquid-use rules, brace for rise in commodity costs

Nation's Restaurant News,  Nov 5, 2007  by Catherine R. Cobb

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ATLANTA -- The severe drought gripping much of the Southeast is prompting many Atlanta restaurateurs to make substantial changes in the way they use and serve water.

In late October, municipal officials were predicting that the city's water supply was less than 90 days from drying up. Atlanta's total rainfall this year through mid-October was more than 16 inches below normal, causing water levels to drop sharply at two lakes that supply the city.

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As government officials hammer out emergency plans, restaurateurs are taking their own steps to conserve the dwindling water supply. From waiting until guests request glasses of water and encouraging the drinking of bottled water to fixing small leaks, running dishwashers only when they are full and even unveiling waterless urinals, efforts to reduce water usage are widespread. Operators also are bracing for increased costs on everything from produce to beef, all of which are expected to go up because of the drought conditions.

At the nine restaurants in the Here to Serve company portfolio, servers now bring guests tap water only when they request it.

Here To Serve, which is owned by Tom Catherall and operates such Atlanta restaurants as Prime, Lola, Twist and Shout, displays table tents explaining its effort to lessen the problem. The company also lowered the price of bottled water to encourage those sales until the drought is over.

"We are getting great reception from the guests," said David Abes, director of operations.

Cliff Bramble, co-owner of Rathbun's Restaurant, Rathbun's Steak and the Krog Bar, said the Atlanta restaurants are still pouring water to all guests, but plans to stop that practice are in the works. Soon, the company will offer tap water by request only.

"It is on our mind daily," Bramble said. "We are all concerned about the restrictions on restaurants that could hurt the economy as well as many operators ... chain or not," he said.

Coby Glass, director of marketing at Metrotainment Cafes in Atlanta, said its 10 restaurants and one bakery have implemented several new procedures because of the drought.

"Not taking glasses to tables is one of the easier things to do, but we have made it a priority in every area of our restaurants for cutting back, or cutting out, water waste," he said.

Aside from eliminating the automatic delivery of tap water to tables, the parent of such concepts as Einstein's, Garrisons and Hudson Grille sent memos to all of its restaurants requiring employees to use natural thaw methods, fix dripping faucets and cut back on half-empty dishwasher use in the kitchen and at the bars. The company even has switched to water-free urinals. They are expensive, said Glass, but the difference is offset in savings after a year.

"We have always been very sensitive partners to the communities around us, and this is a good opportunity to do some good things that also make common sense for the company," he said.

Vincent Palermo, a partner at Canoe in Atlanta's Vinings area, said the severity of the situation was impressed upon him as he was riding his motorcycle past Lake Lanier, north of the city. Lake Lanier is one of the major lakes feeding Atlanta's water supply and about one-third of the entire state of Georgia.

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"It was sad to see what has become of this once beautiful lake," he said. "It is withering away. People don't seem to realize what is really happening. We haven't had any rain to speak of in a year."

Since then, Palermo said he has been talking to his staff constantly to raise awareness and create a sense of urgency so they will watch their water use both at work and at home.

"We are making sure our dishwashers are only running full racks of dishes, and we are only serving tap water upon request," Palermo said. "But these are just a few. I am making sure I am doing all I can do both personally and professionally."

Canoe sits on the banks of the Chattahoochee River, which Palermo said is running very high because of the draining of Lake Lanier.

"To me, it is amazing how many people still ask for tap water in spite of it all," he said. "The number has probably been reduced now by 50 [percent] to 60 percent, but they are still asking for it."

Robby Kukler, co-owner of the Fifth Group, which includes such restaurants as Food Studio, Ecco, La Tavola and two South City Kitchens, said he also is very concerned about the drought.

"Some are talking about Atlanta possibly being out of water in less than 100 days ... of course, it is a concern," he explained. Therefore, he said, the group's restaurants are no longer bringing water to the tables automatically but instead ask guests if they want it. Locals understand the issue, he said, but guests from out of town often do not. "We have reduced bottled water by one dollar, in hopes that will make tap water less attractive," he said.