Eighteen Georgia communities were awarded financing totaling $118,088,460 for water, wastewater, sewer, and solid waste projects by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) board of directors. 

Approved loans: 

  • Arlington awarded a $1,396,600 Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan
  • Atlanta awarded a $5,923,350 CWSRF, a $10,000,000 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) loan, and a $13,077,750 Georgia Fund loan
  • Augusta-Richmond County awarded a $35,935,500 DWSRF conservation loan
  • Baldwin awarded a $2,500,000 Georgia Fund loan
  • Buena Vista awarded a $85,000 DWSRF lead service line loan
  • Columbus Consolidated Government awarded a $7,850,000 Georgia Fund loan
  • Eatonton-Putnam Water and Sewer Authority awarded a $819,000 CWSRF and a $819,000 DWSRF loan
  • Floyd County awarded a $15,000,000 DWSRF loan
  • Fort Gaines awarded a $58,000 DWSRF lead service line loan
  • Gordon awarded a $246,400 DWSRF lead service line loan
  • Greensboro awarded a $275,260 DWSRF lead service line loan
  • Jackson awarded a $1,500,000 CWSRF loan
  • Jefferson awarded a $15,334,700 Georgia Fund loan
  • LaGrange awarded a $3,700,000 Georgia Fund loan
  • Loganville awarded a $30,000 DWSRF lead service line loan
  • Moultrie awarded a $937,900 Georgia Fund loan
  • St. Marys awarded a $100,000 DWSRF lead service line loan
  • Vidalia awarded a $2,500,000 CWSRF loan

Project and loan details: 

City of Arlington

The $1,396,600 CWSRF loan will finance upgrading the water pollution control plant. The city has received several letters of non-compliance from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division related to water samples from the water pollution control plant not meeting several federal discharge limits. The project will bring the city up to compliance with water quality standards. The city will pay 3.41% interest on the 30-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 $837,960. 

City of Atlanta

The $5,923,350 CWSRF loan will finance upgrading the Flint River pump station. The city’s existing pump station is at the end of its useful life and is posing a risk to operations at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Replacing the pumps and control systems are necessary to manage variable and high rates of wastewater flows. This project will provide long-term reliability and efficiency for the pump station. The city will pay 3.39% interest on the 20-year loan. 

The $10,000,000 DWSRF loan will finance upgrading the equipment at the Chattahoochee Water Treatment Plant. The project will increase efficiency, allow for redundancy, and reduce the risk of loss of service to customers. The city will pay 3.39% interest on the 20-year loan. 

The $13,077,750 Georgia Fund loan will finance replacing the discharge piping at the Chattahoochee Water Treatment Plant. This project will prevent potential failures, increase system efficiency, allow for redundancy, and reduce the risk of loss of service to customers. The city will pay 3.49% interest on the 20-year loan.

Augusta-Richmond County

The $35,935,500 DWSRF conservation loan will finance installing new water meters and an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system. This project will reduce leaks, increase billing accuracy, and improve meter reading efficiency. Augusta-Richmond County will pay 2.39% interest on the 20-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to the project being a conservation activity. 

City of Baldwin

The $2,500,000 Georgia Fund loan will finance upgrading the wastewater treatment plant. The city plans to improve the solids handling process by replacing the existing inefficient belt press. This project will address landfill permit violations associated with the current process, produce solids to meet landfill disposal requirements, and minimize leachate generation. The city will pay 3.49% interest on the 20-year loan. 

City of Buena Vista

The $85,000 DWSRF lead service line loan will finance an inventory of lead service lines in the water system. The city is eligible for principal forgiveness up to $85,000.

Columbus Consolidated Government

The $7,850,000 Georgia Fund loan will finance the installation of cells at Pinegrove Municipal Solid Waste landfill. This project will provide additional municipal solid waste capacity for the city’s residents. The county will pay 2.08% interest on the 15-year loan. This loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to the city being a WaterFirst Community.

Eatonton-Putnam Water and Sewer Authority

The $819,000 CWSRF loan will finance conducting an inflow and infiltration study, modeling of the sewer system, and engineering for improvements to the wastewater treatment plant, and collection system. The current wastewater treatment plant and collection system were constructed in the 1960s and have reached the end of their useful lives. Major components at the wastewater treatment plant need replacement, including lift stations and gravity collection systems. This project will serve as a starting point for future improvements. The authority will pay 3.04% interest on the 20-year loan. 

The $819,000 DWSRF loan will finance the cost of engineering for upgrades to the water distribution system. This project will provide a more reliable water system. The authority will pay 3.39% interest on the 20-year loan. 

Floyd County

The $15,000,000 DWSRF will finance constructing a new drinking water well and a new water treatment plant. The county has detected PFAS in its drinking water system. This project will enhance the treatment processes and improve water quality. The city will pay 3.39% interest on the 20-year loan. 

City of Fort Gaines

The $58,000 DWSRF lead service line loan will finance an inventory and replacement of lead service lines in the water system. The city is eligible for principal forgiveness up to $58,000.

City of Gordon

The $246,400 DWSRF lead service line loan will finance an inventory and replacement of lead service lines in the water system. The city is eligible for principal forgiveness up to $246,400.

City of Greensboro 

The $275,260 DWSRF lead service line loan will finance an inventory of lead service lines in the water system. The city will pay 3.14% on the 20-year loan. 

City of Jackson

The $1,500,000 CWSRF loan will finance the engineering and design of renovations to the city’s waste pollution control plants (WPCP) and the decommissioning of the Northeast WPCP. The city’s three wastewater treatment facilities face critical capacity limitations, aging infrastructure, and compliance risks. This project will ensure regulatory compliance, system reliability, and future capacity needs. The city will pay 3.66% interest on the 30-year loan. 

City of Jefferson 

The $15,334,700 Georgia Fund loan will finance constructing the Parks Creek Reservoir. This reservoir will encompass a normal pool area of 166 acres and provide a safe yield of 4 million gallons per day. This project will include the construction of the dam and reservoir, an intake structure and raw water pump station on the North Oconee River, and a withdrawal structure at the dam and reservoir. The city will pay 3.01% interest on the 30-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to the city being a WaterFirst Community.

City of LaGrange

The $3,700,000 Georgia Fund loan will finance upgrading the wastewater treatment plant. Components of the wastewater treatment plant have reached the end of their useful life. This project will reduce monthly costs and operational disruptions throughout the year. The city will pay 3.49% interest on the 20-year loan. 

City of Loganville 

The $30,000 DWSRF lead service line loan will finance an inventory of lead service lines in the way system. The city will pay 2.39% interest on the 20-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to the city being a WaterFirst Community. 

City of Moultrie

The $937,900 Georgia Fund loan will finance expanding the city’s water distribution system, including valves and fire hydrants. This project will enhance overall system reliability and fire protection. The city will pay 3.24% interest on the 20-year loan. 

City of St. Marys

The $100,000 DWSRF lead service line loan will finance an inventory and replacement of lead service lines in the water system. The city will pay 3.39% interest on the 20-year loan.

City of Vidalia

The $2,500,000 CWSRF loan will finance upgrading the sewer and stormwater lines in the collection system, replacing the filters at Swift Creek Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP), a bar screen at the South WPCP, and rehabilitating the lift station. The city will pay 2.89% on the 20-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to the city being a PlanFirst Community. The city is eligible for principal forgiveness up to $1,250,000.

Other GEFA Board Actions:

Executive Director Resolution

The board approved Governor Brian P. Kemp’s recommendation appointing Trey Bennett as GEFA’s new executive director effective November 16, 2025.

GEFA By-Laws

The board approved a change to the GEFA by-laws to update the schedule for quarterly board meetings.

City of Plains

The board approved a $1,073,100 increase to a CWSRF loan originally approved in August 2024.

City of Warrenton

The board approved a scope modification to a $791,100 DWSRF loan originally approved in February 2024.