Seventeen Georgia communities were awarded financing totaling $91,935,500 for water, sewer, wastewater, and stormwater projects by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) board of directors.

Approved loans:

  • Baconton awarded a $216,600 Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) conservation loan
  • Blackshear awarded a $1,264,000 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) conservation loan
  • Byron awarded a $2,000,000 CWSRF loan
  • Clayton awarded a $500,000 Georgia Fund loan
  • Coweta County Water & Sewerage Authority awarded $25,000,000 CWSRF loan
  • Cumming awarded $14,000,000 DWSRF loan
  • Dawson awarded a $2,180,000 CWSRF conservation loan and a $2,261,500 DWSRF conservation loan
  • Fargo awarded a $642,300 DWSRF conservation loan
  • Hartwell awarded $8,210,000 CWSRF loan
  • Hogansville awarded $2,934,000 DWSRF loan
  • Lake Lanier Islands Development Authority awarded $3,679,500 CWSRF conservation loan
  • Mansfield awarded $956,600 CWSRF loan
  • Meansville awarded a $1,400,000 DWSRF conservation loan
  • Newton County Water & Sewerage Authority awarded a $25,000,000 Georgia Fund loan
  • Paulding County awarded a $1,190,000 CWSRF conservation loan
  • Stewart County Water & Sewage Authority awarded a $160,000 DWSRF conservation loan
  • Twin City awarded $341,000 DWSRF conservation loan

Project and loan details:

City of Baconton

The $216,600 CWSRF conservation loan will finance installing a new bar screen, aeration system, baffle curtain, and electrical control panels. This project will improve the efficiency and enhance wastewater treatment systems. The city will pay 0.43% 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 $97,470.

City of Blackshear

The $1,264,000 DWSRF conservation loan will finance replacing manual-read water meters with an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system. This project will reduce leaks, increase billing accuracy, and improve meter reading efficiency. The city will pay 0.13% 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 $631,708.

City of Byron

The $2,000,000 CWSRF loan will finance rehabilitating the city’s stormwater system. The city is experiencing constant flooding due to inadequate drainage infrastructure. This project will improve the stormwater conveyance system including expanding and constricting detention facilities and rehabilitating roadway culverts and storm drainage pipes. The city will pay 0.13% interest on the 20-year loan, which qualifies for a reduced interest rate because the city is a WaterFirst Community.

City of Clayton

The $500,000 Georgia Fund loan will finance rehabilitating the Kingwood pump station. The pump station is experiencing breaks in the force main due to high pumping head and water hammer. The city will pay 0.52% interest on the 10-year loan.

Coweta County Water & Sewerage Authority

The $25,000,000 CWSRF loan will finance upgrading and expanding the Shenandoah Wastewater Treatment Facility. The authority’s service population is projected to grow. This project will ensure the treatment facility meets treatment standards and increasing demand due to continued growth. The authority will pay 0.86% interest on the 30-year loan, which is eligible for a reduced interest rate because Coweta County is a WaterFirst Community.

City of Cumming

The $14,000,000 DWSRF loan will finance improving the water treatment plant and constructing water system infrastructure. Constructing a new clearwell, high service pump station, transfer piping, and various plant improvements will allow adequate water storage capacity and move infrastructure outside of the 100-year flood plain. The city will pay 0.13% interest on the 20-year loan, which is eligible for a reduced interest rate because the city is a WaterFirst Community.

City of Dawson

The $2,180,000 CWSRF conservation loan will finance upgrading the sewer system and the wastewater treatment plant. This project will reduce inflow and infiltration and promote effective treatment to ensure the plant can maintain compliance. The city will pay 0.67% 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 $1,090,000.

The $2,261,500 DWSRF conservation loan will finance improvements to the water distribution system. This project will replace backflow preventers, fire hydrants, and water main to reduce leaks and provide a more reliable water system. The city will pay 0.13% interest rate 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 $1,100,000.

City of Fargo

The $642,300 DWSRF conservation loan will finance installing a second supply well and replacing manual-read water meters with an automatic meter reading (AMR) system. This project will reduce leaks, increase billing accuracy, and improve meter reading efficiency. The city will pay 1.74% interest on the 30-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 $289,035.

City of Hartwell

The $8,210,000 CWSRF loan will finance upgrading the wastewater treatment plant. The project will replace and repair plant infrastructure and equipment to ensure that the treatment plant has adequate treatment and storage capacity. The city will pay 0.13% interest on the 20-year loan, which is eligible for a reduced interest rate because the city is a WaterFirst Community.

City of Hogansville

The $2,934,000 DWSRF loan will finance rehabilitating the city’s water distribution system. The city is experiencing low water pressure and inadequate storage. This project will install an elevated storage tank, a ground storage tank, booster pump, and water main to increase water supply and water pressure and provide adequate storage. The city will pay 1.13% interest on the 20-year loan. The city is eligible for principal forgiveness up to $700,000.

Lake Lanier Islands Development Authority

The $3,679,500 CWSRF conservation loan will finance replacing and lining force main. The force main is beginning to fail in several locations, which is creating sinkholes that are causing damage to roadways. This project will improve safety and reduce inflow and infiltration. The authority will pay 0.13% interest on the 20-year loan. The loan will finance a conservation project, which qualifies for a reduced interest rate.

City of Mansfield

The $956,600 CWSRF loan will finance rehabilitating the water pollution control plant. The project will ensure permitting compliance, maintain operator safety, and improve treatment effectiveness. The city will pay 0.13% interest on the 20-year loan, which qualifies for a reduced interest rate because the city is a WaterFirst Community. The city is eligible for principal forgiveness up to $430,470.

City of Meansville

The $1,400,000 DWSRF conservation loan will finance replacing water main, hydrants, and valves and installing an automatic meter reading (AMR) system. This project will reduce leaks, increase billing accuracy, and improve meter reading efficiency. The city will pay 0.86% interest on the 30-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 $560,000.

Newton County Water & Sewerage Authority

The $25,000,000 Georgia Fund loan will finance constructing a new transmission main and a water storage reservoir and upgrading the water reclamation facility. This project will provide a sufficient water supply to meet industrial and commercial demands at the Stanton Springs Technology Park. The authority will pay 0.63% interest on the 20-year loan, which is eligible for a reduced interest rate because the authority is a WaterFirst Community.

Paulding County

The $1,190,000 CWSRF conservation loan will finance the extension of sanitary sewer lines to provide reliable sewer service and allow for future economic growth and development. The county will pay no interest on the 5-year loan. The loan will finance a conservation project, which qualifies for a reduced interest rate.

Stewart County Water & Sewage Authority

The $160,000 DWSRF conservation loan will finance replacing manual-read water meters with an automatic meter reading (AMR) system. This project will reduce leaks, increase billing accuracy, and improve meter reading efficiency. The authority will pay 0.13% on the 20-year loan. The loan will finance a conservation project, which qualifies for a reduced interest rate. The authority is eligible for principal forgiveness up to $64,000.

City of Twin City

The $341,000 DWSRF conservation loan will finance replacing manual-read water meters with an automatic meter reading (AMR) system. This project will reduce leaks, increase billing accuracy, and improve meter reading efficiency. The city will pay 0.13% 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 $136,400.

Other GEFA board actions:

Board Member Resolution

George McIntosh was recognized for his service to the GEFA board and the state of Georgia.

Carroll County Water Authority

The board approved a $8,000,000 increase to a DWSRF loan approved in August 2019.

Coosa Water Authority

The board approved a $1,015,000 increase to a DWSRF loan approved in August 2020.

City of Sardis

The board approved an emergency loan authorized by the GEFA executive director. The city received a $35,000 Georgia Fund loan to rehabilitate the Ball Park Road high service pump. The city will pay 1.12% interest on the 20-year loan. The city qualifies for a reduced interest rate because the project is a conservation activity.