Hall County officially received its WaterFirst designation on June 13, 2019, during a ceremony at the county’s board of commissioner’s meeting.

WaterFirst communities are committed to excellence in watershed assessment, stormwater master planning, wastewater treatment and management, water supply planning and protection, water conservation, and water reclamation and reuse.

Receiving this designation demonstrates Hall County’s commitment to the stewardship of water resources for environmental and economic benefits. Some of Hall County’s notable accomplishments include:

  • Leveraging the Elachee Nature Science Center and the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper to provide education on water resources.
  • Managing stormwater through a stormwater utility fee, a robust inspection program, and a unique nonpoint source pollution control feature.

WaterFirst communities are eligible for financial and other benefits from the state, including a 1% interest rate reduction on Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) loans, eligibility for water-related Community Development Block Grants administered by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, and priority status for the 319 Grant Program administered by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division.

Hall County is the 34th community to receive the WaterFirst designation, and the second to receive this designation since the program moved to GEFA.

For more information on the WaterFirst Program, visit gefa.georgia.gov/waterfirst.