July 2026

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Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District to make every drop count!

District Announces New Board and Staff Leadership


The Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District recently announced new leadership for both its Board and staff.

The District's Board has elected a new leadership team: Gwinnett County Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson as Board Chair, Cherokee County Chairman Harry Johnston as Board Vice Chair, and Dr. Mark Berry of Georgia Power as Secretary/Treasurer.

At the June 3 Governing and Executive Board meeting, District leadership recognized outgoing Board Chair Glenn Page, who concluded six years of dedicated leadership. A former water utility general manager and current consultant, Page brought decades of operational expertise and a steadfast commitment to protecting metro Atlanta's water resources. His leadership helped strengthen regional partnerships and advance the District's mission over the past six years.

Also in June, the District announced Katherine Atteberry as its new District Manager and Shellby Miller as District Coordinator. Atteberry, who has served with the District since 2019, brings 25 years of experience in stormwater management and watershed protection. Miller brings more than eight years of experience in geospatial analysis, data management, and regional water planning to support the District's programs and initiatives.

Read more: Board leadership announcement | Staff leadership announcement

My Drop Counts! Conservation Campaign Launches

This month, the District launched a multi-media conservation campaign across the metro Atlanta area. We are excited to partner with 11Alive and Clear Channel to share information and resources with our residents and visitors. While recent rains have helped improve drought conditions, it will take much more rain in the right places – and continued water-saving measures – to fully restore water supplies to normal levels. The campaign features:

• A kick-off live interview June 29 with Justine Schwartz on Atlanta & Co talking about #MyDropCounts tips and resources;
• A 30-second, 11Alive-produced commercial informing TV and streaming viewers about current drought conditions and tips to save water;
• Five digital billboard locations across north Atlanta; and
• A Meta (Facebook & Instagram) social media campaign to complement the broadcast and billboard messages.

We encourage our partners and residents to help share these messages with customers, neighbors, family and friends!

Over the previous 12 months, the region only received 35.5 inches of rain – about 14 inches below normal. Lake Lanier, our largest source of drinking water, was more than 5 feet below “full pool,” the reservoir’s target level. And in late April, Georgia EPD declared a Level 1 drought for all of metro Atlanta.

When the skies finally opened in May, dumping an average of 5.3 inches of rain (and much more in some areas), many wondered if our water worries were behind us. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. The Atlanta Regional Commission recently shared a blog explaining the reasons why and how water conservation is still important.

Monitor the latest drought conditions and find resources at: MyDropCounts.org

Resiliency Webinar Recording Available

Did you miss our Resilient Water Utilities webinar on June 16? You can watch the recording to hear all about the District’s 2026 Resilient Water Utilities Report and resources available to utilities. 

Proactive resilience planning not only safeguards public health, worker safety, and infrastructure but also delivers significant cost savings over time. The District faces hotter temperatures, highly variable precipitation, and increasingly frequent and severe storms. These trends threaten water demand and supply, while potentially elevating operational costs over time. However, preparation and early investment can save utilities money and make them more resilient in the long run. By implementing the peer-informed resilience strategies outlined in this report, utilities can reduce risk, protect assets, and help ensure reliable service for decades to come.

Student Videos Turn the Spotlight on Stormwater