Ten Georgia communities were awarded financing totaling $88,965,100 for water, wastewater, and sewer projects by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) board of directors.

Approved loans:

  • Albany awarded a $25,000,000 Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) conservation loan
  • Auburn awarded a $11,440,800 Georgia Fund loan
  • Dade County Water and Sewer Authority awarded a $1,874,400 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) loan
  • Hinesville awarded a $25,933,600 CWSRF loan
  • LaFayette awarded a $1,667,000 Georgia Fund loan
  • Lumpkin County Water and Sewerage Authority awarded a $3,000,000 CWSRF conservation loan
  • Metter awarded a $841,400 Georgia Fund loan
  • Villa Rica awarded a $1,707,900 CWSRF loan
  • Waynesboro awarded a $3,500,000 CWSRF loan
  • Winder awarded a $14,000,000 DWSRF loan

Project and loan details:

City of Albany

The $25,000,000 CWSRF conservation loan will finance rehabilitating the city’s wastewater treatment plant and separating the combined sewer distribution system. This project will improve the treatment process, reduce overflow, and increase reliability and efficiency. The city will pay 2.08% interest on the 20-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate because of GEFA’s affordability criteria and a portion of the project is a conservation activity. The city is eligible for principal forgiveness up to $1,850,000.

City of Auburn

The $11,440,800 Georgia Fund loan will finance the construction of a new water treatment plant. The city is converting an existing rock quarry to a pump storage raw water storage pond. The new water treatment plant will treat the water stored in the quarry and will be used by the cities of Auburn and Winder. This project will increase water supply and improve system reliability. The city will pay 2.13% interest on the 20-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to the city being a WaterFirst Community.

Dade County Water and Sewer Authority

The $1,874,400 DWSRF loan will finance upgrading the raw water intake on Lookout Creek. During significant rainfall events, debris clogs the pumps. This project will increase pump efficiency and enhance water system reliability. The authority will pay 3.12% interest on the 30-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to GEFA’s affordability criteria.

City of Hinesville

The $25,933,600 CWSRF loan will finance the second phase of upgrading the city’s sewer collection system at the JV Road Water Reclamation Facility. The facility is currently being expanded to a four sequencing batch reactor (SBR) system and needs to expand capacity to treat 4 million gallons per day. This project will enhance system resiliency, reliability, and efficiency. The city will pay 1.63% interest on the 20-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to the city being a WaterFirst Community.

City of LaFayette

The $1,667,000 Georgia Fund loan will finance replacing the aeration system at the wastewater treatment plant. Many components of the system have reached the end of its useful life. This project will bring the system up to federal and state requirements and will improve efficiency and reliability. The city will pay 2.35% interest on the 20-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to GEFA’s affordability criteria.

Lumpkin County Water and Sewerage Authority

The $3,000,000 CWSRF conservation loan will finance constructing a new water reclamation facility and upgrading the county’s sewer collection system. In recent years, the Georgia 400 corridor has experienced tremendous growth. This project will help address the projected need for future capacity and will enhance system resiliency, reliability, and efficiency. The authority will pay 1.63% interest on the 20-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to the project being a conservation activity.

City of Metter

The $841,400 Georgia Fund loan will finance extending water and sewer lines to a new industrial development adjacent to the industrial park. The new development will bring additional jobs to the city. The city will pay 1.31% interest on the 30-year loan. This loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to GEFA’s affordability criteria.

City of Villa Rica

The $1,707,900 CWSRF loan will finance upgrading the city’s influent pump station. This project will enhance system resiliency, reliability, and efficiency. The city will pay 1.63% interest on the 20-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to the city being a WaterFirst Community.

City of Waynesboro

The $3,500,000 CWSRF loan will finance upgrading the city’s wastewater treatment plant. The plant was constructed in the 1980s and has reached the end of its useful life. This project will improve reliability and efficiency of the plant. The city will pay 2.31% interest on the 20-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to GEFA’s affordability criteria.

City of Winder

The $14,000,000 DWSRF loan will finance upgrading and improving the Highway 53 Water Treatment Plant. This project will increase the water supply reliability to 9.2 million gallons per day and improve the treatment process. The city will pay 1.63% interest on the 20-year loan, which is eligible for a reduced interest rate because the city is a WaterFirst Community.

Other GEFA board actions:

City of Douglas

The board approved $1,500,000 in principal forgiveness to a CWSRF loan originally approved in November 2022.

City of Dublin

The board approved a $3,080,000 increase to a CWSRF loan originally approved in May 2021. This increase will have zero interest for 20 years.

City of Hiawassee

The board approved a $1,102,000 increase to a DWSRF loan originally approved in January 2019. This increase will have an interest rate of 2.13% for 20 years.

City of Hinesville

The board approved a $3,979,300 increase to a CWSRF loan originally approved in May 2020. This increase will have an interest rate of 1.63% for 20 years.

City of Ringgold

The board approved a $610,900 increase to a Georgia Fund loan originally approved in May 2020. This increase will have an interest rate of 2.07% for 10 years.

Additional information:

The CWSRF provides low-interest loans for wastewater and water pollution control infrastructure. These projects conserve and improve water resources and facilitate economic development. The program is jointly funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the state of Georgia.

The DWSRF provides low-interest loans for infrastructure projects that deliver safe, affordable drinking water. These projects conserve and improve water resources and facilitate economic development. The program is jointly funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the state of Georgia.

The Georgia Fund, a state-funded program, provides low-interest loans for water, wastewater, water conservation, and solid waste infrastructure projects. Eligible projects include water and sewer lines, treatment plants, pumping stations, wells, water storage tanks, and water meters. These projects conserve and improve water resources and facilitate economic development.

GEFA offers a reduced interest rate for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects at water and wastewater treatment plants, landfills, and municipal solid waste facilities; water conservation projects in the areas of water loss and end-use water efficiency; and nonpoint source pollution control projects.

WaterFirst recognizes local governments for achieving excellence in water resources management. Becoming a WaterFirst Community demonstrates a local government's commitment to responsible water stewardship for environmental and economic benefits. Communities that earn the WaterFirst designation are eligible for an interest rate reduction.