Thirteen Georgia communities were awarded financing totaling $87,441,000 for water, sewer, and wastewater projects by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) board of directors.

Approved loans:

  • Blakely awarded a $1,680,000 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) conservation loan
  • Columbus Water Works awarded a $7,526,000 Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan
  • Douglas awarded a $3,000,000 CWSRF loan and a $2,000,000 DWSRF loan
  • Georgetown-Quitman County awarded a $767,000 DWSRF conservation loan
  • Harris County Board of Commissioners awarded a $5,250,000 DWSRF loan
  • Henry County Water Authority awarded a $50,000,000 CWSRF loan
  • LaFayette awarded a $1,350,000 CWSRF conservation loan
  • Lavonia awarded a $2,500,000 DWSRF loan
  • Lumpkin awarded a $378,000 DWSRF conservation loan
  • Millen awarded a $1,100,000 Georgia Fund loan
  • Talbot County Board of Commissioners awarded a $1,000,000 DWSRF conservation loan
  • Thomasville awarded a $789,000 CWSRF loan
  • Vidalia awarded a $3,000,000 CWSRF loan

Project and loan details:

City of Blakely

The $1,680,000 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 0.73% interest on the 15-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to GEFA’s affordability criteria and the project being a conservation activity. The city is eligible for principal forgiveness up to $1,008,000.

Columbus Water Works

The $7,526,000 CWSRF loan will finance upgrading the combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and constructing a new pre-treatment facility. In November 2020, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) reissued the city’s permit for discharges from its CSOs. This project will increase system reliability and ensure compliance with the new total residual chlorine limits. The city will pay 1.84% on the 20-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to GEFA’s affordability criteria and the city being a WaterFirst Community.

City of Douglas

The $3,000,000 CWSRF loan will finance expanding and improving the wastewater treatment plant. This project will allow the plant to handle increased demand due to population growth. The city will pay 2.03% interest on the 20-year loan.

The $2,000,000 DWSRF loan will finance rehabilitating wells and replacing water mains, valves, and hydrants. The city’s cast-iron water mains pose a threat to public safety due to their age and materials used in construction. This project will improve the city’s water quality and reliability. The city will pay 2.03% interest on the 20-year loan. The city is eligible for principal forgiveness up to $700,000.

The loans qualify for reduced interest rates due to GEFA’s affordability criteria and the city being a PlanFirst Community.

 Georgetown-Quitman County  

The $767,000 DWSRF loan will finance replacing manual-read water meters with an automatic metering reading (AMR) system. This project will reduce leaks, increase billing accuracy, and improve meter reading efficiency. The county will pay 1.21% interest on the 15-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to GEFA’s affordability criteria and the project being a conservation activity. The city is eligible for principal forgiveness up to $383,500.

 Harris County Board of Commissioners

The $5,250,000 DWSRF loan will finance relocating and upgrading water main because the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) is widening U.S. Route 27 from the Muscogee County line to the intersection of State Route 31. This project will avoid conflict with the proposed GDOT road improvements. The city will pay 2.92% interest on the 20-year loan.

Henry County Water Authority

The $50,000,000 CWSRF loan will finance upgrading and expanding the Walnut Creek Water Reclamation Facility. The county’s population has grown 1.6 percent in the last 11 years. This project will increase system reliability and help the county meet the projected demand for both residential and commercial development. The authority will pay 2.21% interest on the 25-year loan, which is eligible for a reduced interest rate because the county is a WaterFirst Community.

City of LaFayette

The $1,350,000 CWSRF conservation loan will finance replacing a pump station, sewer lines, and manholes. The Roper Corporation announced its intention to expand production. This project will allow the city’s wastewater system to handle the additional flow. The city will pay 1.97% on the 20-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to GEFA’s affordability criteria and a portion of the project being a conservation activity.

City of Lavonia

The $2,500,000 DWSRF loan will finance upgrading the city’s water distribution system. Components of the current system have reached the end of their useful life. An interconnection with the town of Monroe will also serve as an emergency water supply for the city’s water system. This project will increase system pressure and improve the efficiency of the city’s water system. The city will pay 2.19% interest 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 $900,000.

City of Lumpkin

The $378,000 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 0.89% interest on the 15-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to GEFA’s affordability criteria and the project being a conservation activity. The city is eligible for principal forgiveness up to $189,000.

City of Millen

The $1,100,000 Georgia Fund loan will finance installing a new well and an elevated storage tank for the industrial park on the west side of the city. This project will provide infrastructure improvements and enhance the quality of the water for the system. The city will pay 2.56% interest on the 20-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to GEFA’s affordability criteria.

Talbot County Board of Commissioners

The $1,000,000 DWSRF conservation loan will finance upgrading the water distribution system. The county’s water system supply issue became critical when Oak Mountain system tanks were dangerously low for a prolonged period. This project will increase supply and system reliability. The county will pay 2.01% interest on the 20-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to GEFA’s affordability criteria and a portion of the project being a conservation activity. The county is eligible for principal forgiveness up to $400,000.

City of Thomasville

The $7,890,000 CWSRF loan will finance rehabilitating the city’s wastewater treatment plant. This project will improve the treatment process and increase reliability and efficiency. The city will pay 2.32% 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.

City of Vidalia

The $3,000,000 CWSRF loan will finance rehabilitating the city’s wastewater treatment plants and lift stations and installing sewer lines. This project will improve the treatment process and increase system reliability and efficiency. 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 950,000.

Other GEFA board actions:

Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program

The board approved the establishment of a Georgia Fund One Plus investment account to maximize return of funds invested on behalf of the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program (GOSP), which is managed in conjunction with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The GOSP board of trustees unanimously approved the measure on October 11, 2022.

Banks County Board of Commissioners

The board approved a $17,500,000 increase to a CWSRF conservation loan originally approved in January 2022. This increase will have an interest rate of 3.39% for 30 years.

Columbus Water Works

The board approved a $8,869,800 increase to a CWSRF loan originally approved in November 2020. This increase will have an interest rate of 1.84% for 20 years.

The board approved a $11,230,200 increase to a CWSRF loan originally approved in January 2021. This increase will have an interest rate of 1.84% for 20 years.

City of Lookout Mountain  

The board approved a $607,103 increase to a CWSRF conservation loan originally approved in May 2022. This increase will have an interest rate of 2.73% for 20 years.

Newton County

The board approved a $10,000,000 increase to a DWSRF loan originally approved in January 2021. This increase will have an interest rate of 2.41% for 30 years.

City of Porterdale

The board approved a $782,000 increase to a CWSRF loan originally approved in May 2018. This increase will have an interest rate of 1.25% for 20 years.