SF Over Georgia water rides to open as planned

Six Flags Over Georgia will be allowed to operate its water rides despite a severe local drought, thanks to an unorthodox deal reached with Cobb Country. The park, scheduled to open March 1, will be allowed to operate the rides in exchange for installing low-flow toilets and faucets in its restroom facilities. Six Flags spokesperson Hela Sheth says more than half the park's water uses comes from restrooms; she estimates as much as an 18 percent drop in overall water usage following the replacement of 125 toilets installed before 1992 and other plumbing. She said that closing the park's water rides would only decrease usage about 13 percent. Six Flags Over Georgia also plans to use well water to fill at least two of the rides and to maintain the landscaping using water from spring-fed lakes and stormwater runoff.