ATLANTA, Ga. (WXIA) - After an historic drought that saw Lake Lanier drop to a record low, the main supply of drinking water to metro-Atlanta is now full again.

It happened much faster than anyone expected.

Trudy Taylor owns a home in a cove of Lake Lanier in Forsyth County. A year ago, docks were sitting on dry land. Now, the water beneath her dock is bountiful.

"The water is cleaner now," says Taylor. "I guess all the dirty water just sort of evaporated, and all the fresh rain came and we have beautiful clean water in Lake Lanier."

Ravaged by years of drought, Lake Lanier dropped to 19 feet below full pool in December of 2007. The lake was still 17 feet below full pool at the beginning of this year. Some predicted that it would take five years or more for a full recovery.

Then came this history making rainfall.

At The Dam Store, sales of fishing gear and bait have bounced back. When the lake was at it's lowest, sales were a third of what they are now that the lake is full again.

"We're building and we're expanding because of the prospect of it staying full," says manager Gina McLane.

Some businesses may take years to recover from the damage done by the drought.

"Some of them actually may not come back into business is the thought we have in many cases when they were very reliant on the water levels," says Jackie Joseph of the Lake Lanier Association.

For Trudy Taylor and other homeowners, there is finally a level of comfort.

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