In the ever-evolving world of durable and non-durable goods manufacturing, a few aspects and requirements of production remain constant and unchanging; a clean, reliable, abundant and professionally managed water source is as central to their success as an experienced executive staff, a skilled workforce, and stable logistic supply and distribution lines.
A site selector’s ability to know that a property’s production facility can meet the water requirements without interruption and delay is a key aspect of nearly all industrial site selections. The United States’ manufacturing sector utilizes approximately 18 billion gallons of water a day for its operational needs, or about 25% of all fresh water draws according to a 2015 study by the Census Bureau. For perspective, that is about 56 gallons of water for every man, woman and child in the United States per day (20,400 a year).
Lake Decatur boasts a reservoir reserve of nine billion gallons of water locally, which is a 30% increase over previous years due to the recent dredging project that was completed in 2019. This volume which is continually replenished by our regional watershed is equal to approximately 86,500 gallons of fresh water for every person living in Macon County. Decatur certainly has the water to spare.
Manufacturers in the United States have a great need of a readily available, abundant, and reliable water supply, and they will naturally seek out the communities that can supply that need, not only for a day or a year, but for generations. Decatur is such a community.