Ten Georgia communities were awarded financing totaling $112,478,000 for water, wastewater, sewer, and solid waste projects by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) board of directors.

Approved loans:

  • Camilla awarded a $1,578,000 Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan
  • Centerville awarded a $1,500,000 CWSRF conservation loan
  • Clayton County Water Authority awarded a $25,000,000 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) loan
  • Cumming awarded a $19,000,000 DWSRF conservation loan
  • DeKalb County awarded a $6,000,000 Georgia Fund loan
  • Perry awarded a $50,000,000 CWSRF loan
  • Rabun County Water and Sewer Authority awarded a $1,800,000 CWSRF loan
  • Social Circle awarded a $2,100,000 DWSRF conservation loan
  • Vidalia awarded a $2,500,000 DWSRF loan
  • Villa Rica awarded a $3,000,000 Georgia Fund loan

Project and loan details:

City of Camilla

The $1,578,000 CWSRF conservation loan will finance upgrading the land application system. The city’s oxidation pond liners have reached the end of their useful life. This project will enhance water quality and improve redundancy and reliability. The city will pay 1.61% on the 20-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to GEFA’s affordability criteria. The city is eligible for principal forgiveness up to $710,100.

City of Centerville

The $1,500,000 CWSRF conservation loan will finance installing a sewer main. An additional 600 residential lots are being constructed that require a new sewer main. This project will help facilitate future growth, remove residential septic systems, and provide reliable sewer service. The city will pay 1.62% on the 15-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to the project being a conservation activity.

Clayton County Water Authority

The $25,000,000 DWSRF loan will finance replacing the existing automatic meter (AMR) system with an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system. This project will reduce leaks, increase billing accuracy, and improve meter reading efficiency. The authority will pay 1.92% interest on the 20-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to the county being a WaterFirst Community.

City of Cumming

The $19,000,000 DWSRF loan will finance the installation of a water main. The city’s current water system is experiencing low water pressure. This project will enhance water system reliability, reduce non-revenue water loss, and provide redundancy. The city will pay 1.92% interest on the 20-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to the city being a WaterFirst Community.

DeKalb County

The $6,000,000 Georgia Fund loan will finance the construction of landfill cells. The Seminole Road Landfill is approaching maximum capacity. This project will construct landfill cells to provide additional municipal solid waste capacity for the county’s residents. The county will pay 2.26% interest on the 5-year loan.

City of Perry

The $50,000,000 CWSRF loan will finance constructing a new wastewater treatment facility. Population growth is anticipated in the eastern part of the city. This project will help meet future sewer service demands. The city will pay 2.41% on the 30-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to the city being a WaterFirst Community.

Rabun County Water and Sewer Authority

The $1,800,000 DWSRF loan will finance extending the water main. Currently, residential wells along Wolffork Road do not provide a safe drinking water source. This project will provide a reliable drinking water source and enhance the redundancy of the water service area. The authority will pay 2.45% interest on the 20-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to GEFA’s affordability criteria. The authority is eligible for principal forgiveness up to $630,000.

City of Social Circle

The $2,100,000 DWSRF conservation loan will finance improvements to the water distribution system and water treatment plant. The city’s water main is undersized and aging, resulting in leakage. This project will increase water supply and improve plant efficiency and safety. The city will pay 2.66% interest on the 20-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to a portion of the project being a conservation activity.

City of Vidalia

The $2,500,000 DWSRF loan will finance upgrading the water distribution system and wells. The city’s distribution system has an old, galvanized and cast-iron water main. Replacing the water main and upgrading the wells will protect human health and increase system reliability. The city will pay 1.57% interest on the 20-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to GEFA’s affordability criteria and the city being a PlanFirst Community. The city is eligible for principal forgiveness up to $900,000.

City of Villa Rica

The $3,000,000 Georgia Fund loan will finance the relocation of water main and sewer main. Utility relocations are required as part of two road construction projects by the Georgia Department of Transportation. The city will pay 2.42% interest on the 20-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to the city being a WaterFirst Community.

Other GEFA board actions:

City of Greenville

The board approved a $64,863 increase to a DWSRF conservation loan originally approved in August 2021. This increase will have an interest rate of 1.77% for 20 years.

Walker County Water & Sewerage Authority

The board approved a $10,000,000 increase to a CWSRF conservation loan originally approved in January 2021. This increase will have an interest rate of 2.84% for 20 years.

The board approved a $13,000,000 increase to a DWSRF conservation loan originally approved in August 2020. This increase will have an interest rate of 2.60% for 20 years.