Six Georgia communities were awarded financing totaling $37,179,600 for water, wastewater, sewer, and land conservation projects by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) board of directors.

Approved loans:

  • Blue Ridge awarded a $600,000 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) conservation loan and a $350,000 DWSRF conservation loan
  • Braselton awarded a $5,600,000 Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan
  • Clayton County Water Authority awarded a $16,000,000 DWSRF loan
  • Fort Gaines awarded a $6,079,600 CWSRF conservation loan
  • Summerville awarded a $3,000,000 CWSRF conservation loan and a $2,000,000 DWSRF loan
  • Watkinsville awarded a $3,550,000 CWSRF conservation loan

Project and loan details:

City of Blue Ridge

The $600,000 DWSRF conservation loan will finance improvements to the Eagles Nest booster pump station and the installation of supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) equipment and electrical control upgrades. The pump station currently provides insufficient water pressure for the distribution system to properly operate. It also repeatedly leaks and floods due to an increase in capacity and design limitations. This project will enhance water system reliability and reduce water loss. The city will pay 1.71% 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 city is eligible for principal forgiveness up to $150,000.

The $350,000 DWSRF conservation loan will finance the rehabilitation of the Mountain Tops booster pump station and the installation of SCADA equipment, variable frequency drives, and electrical control upgrades. The pump station is currently experiencing mechanical malfunctions that renders it non-operational for extensive periods of time. This impacts the water supply during peak times and reduces efficiency. This project will reduce water loss, provide redundancy, and improve system operations. The city will pay 1.50% interest on the 20-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduces interest rate due to GEFA’s affordability criteria and a portion of the project being a conservation activity. The city is eligible for principal forgiveness up to $175,000.

Town of Braselton

The $5,600,000 CWSRF loan will finance expanding the town’s current water reclamation facility, constructing treatment structures, and importing soil to areas that have poor soil quality. A recent environmental assessment identified poor quality soil conditions around the facility. Importing new soil will help the wastewater treatment process and provide adequate protection to the water quality in surrounding areas. This project will mitigate potential risk to the soil and maximize the benefits of water reuse and resource conservation. The town will pay 1.63% interest on the 20-year loan, which is eligible for a reduced interest rate because Braselton is a WaterFirst Community.

Clayton County Water Authority

The $16,000,000 DWSRF loan will finance the engineering for the design-build upgrades to the authority's three water treatments plants, which have high levels of PFAS. This will be the first phase of a request for a progressive design-build project to upgrade the water treatment plants. The authority will pay 1.63% interest on the 20-year loan, which is eligible for a reduced interest rate because Clayton County is a WaterFirst Community.

City of Fort Gaines

The $6,079,600 CWSRF conservation loan will finance constructing a new wastewater treatment plant and installing sewer. The city’s current wastewater treatment plant has reached the end of its useful life and the Jackson Street lift station has significant inflow and infiltration. This project will improve the treatment process and increase system reliability and efficiency. The city will pay 0.63% 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 city is eligible for principal forgiveness up to $5,300,000.

City of Summerville

The $3,000,000 CWSRF conservation loan will finance installing new sewer lines. Many of the city’s current sewer lines are more than 70 years old and are made of clay or concrete. This project will improve the treatment process and reduce inflow and infiltration. The city will pay 0.57% interest on the 20-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 $1,500,000.

The $2,000,000 DWSRF loan will finance constructing a new underground well. Samples taken from the Raccoon Creek surface water intake tested for high levels of PFAS. The new well will provide a clean drinking water source to serve the city’s customers. The city will pay 0.92% 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 $1,000,000.

City of Watkinsville

The $3,550,000 CWSRF conservation loan will finance the purchase of the Thomas Family Farm for permanent conservation. The 100-acre property has 20 acres of wetlands, two tributaries of Calls Creek, and a significant tributary of the Middle Oconee River. This purchase will allow the city to conserve the land, protect wetlands and streambanks, and reduce erosion. The city will pay 1.63% interest on the 20-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate because the project is a conservation activity.

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.