Thirteen Georgia communities were awarded financing totaling $27,344,000 for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) board of directors.

Approved loans:

  • Athens-Clarke County Unified Government awarded a $900,000 Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) conservation loan
  • Blue Ridge awarded a $5,000,000 CWSRF conservation loan
  • Cairo awarded a $2,250,000 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) conservation loan
  • Damascus awarded a $50,000 DWSRF conservation loan
  • Griffin awarded a $3,000,000 DWSRF loan
  • Hinesville awarded a $2,626,000 CWSRF loan
  • LaFayette awarded a $4,600,000 DWSRF conservation loan
  • Millen awarded a $896,000 DWSRF conservation loan
  • Ringgold awarded a $2,002,000 Georgia Fund loan
  • Rockmart awarded a $670,000 Georgia Fund loan
  • Sylvester awarded a $1,250,000 DWSRF conservation loan
  • Thomasville awarded a $2,500,000 DWSRF conservation loan
  • Waycross awarded a $1,600,000 DWSRF loan

Project and loan details:

Athens-Clarke County Unified Government

The $900,000 CWSRF conservation loan will finance the purchase of 71 acres of land adjacent to the Rock and Shoals Outcrop Natural Area for permanent conservation. This project will permanently preserve a valuable ecosystem, protect waterways, control nonpoint source pollution, and provide connectivity to the Rock and Shoals Outcrop Natural Area. Athens-Clark County will pay 0.50% interest on the 10-year loan. The loan will finance a conservation project, which qualifies for a reduced interest rate. Athens-Clarke County is eligible for principle forgiveness up to $225,000.

City of Blue Ridge

The $5,000,000 CWSRF conservation loan will finance the rehabilitation of the water pollution control plant, which is not operating at optimal performance due to aging equipment. This project will restore adequate treatment processes and ensure National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System compliance. The city will pay 2.34% interest on the 25-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate because a portion of the project is a conservation activity. The city is eligible for principal forgiveness up to $750,000.

City of Cairo

The $2,250,000 DWSRF conservation loan will finance replacing the city’s water main. The city’s water distribution system is experiencing water main breaks due to aging infrastructure. This project will improve the city’s water quality and enhance the system’s reliability. The city will pay 0.62% interest on the 10-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate because a portion of the project is a conservation activity. The city is eligible for principal forgiveness up to $750,000.

City of Damascus

The $50,000 DWSRF conservation loan will finance the installation of water meters, service lines, and backflow preventers. The city currently does not have water meters. The lack of metering is resulting in unreliable usage data and revenue loss. This project will conserve water and allow the city to recover water revenue. The city will pay 0.94% interest on the 20-year loan. The loan will finance a conservation project, which qualifies for a reduced interest rate. The city is eligible for principal forgiveness up to $20,000.

City of Griffin

The $3,00,000 DWSRF loan will finance the installation of backup generators for the Still Branch Regional Water Treatment Plant and pump stations. This treatment plant supplies water to seven communities. Through risk assessment, the city identified that backup power is a high priority. This project will result in greater reliability and redundancy in case of emergency. The city will pay 0.94% interest on the 20-year loan, which is eligible for a reduced interest rate because Griffin is a WaterFirst Community. The city is eligible for principal forgiveness up to $750,000.

City of Hinesville

The $2,626,000 CWSRF loan will finance improvements to the JV Road Water Reclamation Facility. The facility is using a three-basin sequencing batch reactor (SBR) with a fourth nested tank used for digestion. If one basin is out of service, the new permit limits cannot be met. This project will convert the digestor to a fourth SBR to meet the new permit limits. The city will pay 0.94% interest on the 20-year loan, which is eligible for a reduced interest rate because Hinesville is a WaterFirst Community. The city is eligible for principal forgiveness up to $550,000.

City of LaFayette

The $4,600,000 DWSRF conservation loan will finance the rehabilitation of the water treatment facilities at Dickson Springs. This project will increase the city’s water production and reduce water purchased from Walker County. The city will pay 1.86% interest on the 20-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate because a portion of the project is a conservation activity. The city is eligible for principal forgiveness up to $750,000.

City of Millen

The $896,000 DWSRF conservation loan will finance replacing manual-read water meters with an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system. The city is not capturing its full revenue potential due to meter inaccuracies and is unable to quickly identify leaks. The project will reduce water loss and increase billing accuracy and meter reading efficiency. The city will pay 0.57% interest on the 15-year loan. The loan will finance a conservation project, which qualifies for a reduced interest rate. The city is eligible for principal forgiveness up to $351,000.

City of Ringgold

The loan will finance the construction of a water storage tank and the installation of water main at the Rollins Industrial Park. The storage tank and water main will increase water pressure, provide system redundancy and reliability, and ensure fire safety. This project will encourage development and job creation at the industrial park. The city will pay 1.56% interest on the 10-year loan.

City of Rockmart

The $670,000 Georgia Fund loan will finance improvements and upgrades to the city’s water pollution control plant (WPCP) and water treatment plant (WTP). Tip Top Poultry is expanding and the WPCP and WTP will not accommodate this expansion. The project will allow the city to meet the growing needs of its residential, commercial, and industrial customers. The city will pay 2.44% interest on the 20-year loan.

City of Sylvester

The $1,250,000 DWSRF conservation loan will finance the replacement of water main and fire hydrants. The water system lacks redundancy and some of the fire hydrants are either inoperable or outdated. This project will provide a more reliable water supply for the city. The city will pay 0.94% interest on the 20-year loan. The loan will finance a conservation project, which qualifies for a reduced interest rate. The city is eligible for principal forgiveness up to $500,000.

City of Thomasville

The $2,500,000 DWSRF conservation loan will finance the installation of water main, fire hydrants, and valves. The majority of the city’s water distribution system consists of leaky water main and outdated fire hydrants. This project will address the most critical areas to conserve water and enhance system reliability. The city will pay 0.94% interest on the 20-year loan. The loan will finance a conservation project, which qualifies for a reduced interest rate. The city is eligible for principal forgiveness up to $750,000.

City of Waycross

The $1,600,000 DWSRF loan will finance the construction of a groundwater well. The city’s current water supply is provided by two wells that share a common power supply. This project will provide a new withdrawal well as a redundant supply for the primary wells in case of a power failure. The city will pay 1.94% interest on the 20-year loan. The city is eligible for principal forgiveness up to $525,000.

Other GEFA board actions:

City of Blairsville

The board approved a $160,000 increase to a $800,000 CWSRF loan approved in August 2018.

City of Bowdon

The board ratified an emergency loan authorized by the GEFA executive director. The city received a $162,900 Georgia Fund loan to make repairs to the city’s water treatment plant. The city will pay 2.44% interest on the 20-year loan.

Brunswick-Glynn County Joint Water & Sewer Commission

The board approved $750,000 of principal forgiveness on a $15,000,000 CWSRF conservation loan approved in August 2019.

Carroll County Water Authority

The board approved $750,000 of principal forgiveness on a $25,000,000 DWSRF conservation loan approved in January 2018.

Chatsworth Water Works Commission

The board approved a $5,900,000 increase to a $6,100,000 CWSRF conservation loan approved in January 2018.

City of Chickamauga

The board approved a $1,000,000 increase to a $400,000 DWSRF loan approved in November 2017. The increase will serve as interim financing.

Emanuel County Development Authority

The board approved a scope modification to a $920,000 Georgia Fund loan approved in May 2017.

City of Greenville

The board ratified an emergency loan authorized by the GEFA executive director. The city received a $45,500 Georgia Fund loan to rehabilitate its booster pump station, which is the city’s only source of water. The city will pay 2.44% interest on the 20-year loan. 

City of Lula

The board approved a $432,000 increase to a $1,245,000 CWSRF conservation loan approved in January 2020.

Madison County Industrial Development and Building Authority

The board approved a scope modification to a $4,700,000 DWSRF loan approved in May 2018.