Atlanta to increase water supply

ATLANTA - The city of Atlanta currently has just a three-day supply of water in reserve in the event of a long drought. 

Atlanta Water Commissioner Jo Ann Macrina said that is not nearly enough.

Work got underway Monday at the site called the quarry off Marietta Bouleveard. The city will build a tunnel that will eventually enable water officials to fill the giant hole with storage water for a minimum of thirty days. 

The project not only takes care of the water needs for residents, but the number more than doubles when you take in all of the 1.2 million customers in and outside the city.

The cost of the work should come in at just $300 million and it is scheduled to come on line in 2018.