Sixteen Georgia communities were awarded financing totaling $76,143,000 for water, sewer, and wastewater infrastructure improvements by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) board of directors.
Among the recipients is the Brunswick-Glynn County Joint Water & Sewer Commission.
Approved loans:
- Baconton awarded a $189,000 Georgia Fund loan
- Brunswick-Glynn County Joint Water & Sewer Commission awarded a $15,000,000 Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) conservation loan
- Carroll County Water Authority awarded a $25,000,000 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) conservation loan
- Cuthbert awarded a $781,000 DWSRF conservation loan
- Doerun awarded a $760,000 DWSRF conservation loan
- Fairmount awarded a $600,000 CWSRF conservation loan
- Fayetteville awarded a $19,474,000 CWSRF conservation loan
- Funston awarded a $206,000 DWSRF conservation loan
- Griffin awarded a $4,000,000 CWSRF loan
- Ivey awarded a $340,000 DWSRF conservation loan
- Jersey awarded a $750,000 DWSRF conservation loan
- Lavonia awarded a $2,206,000 CWSRF conservation loan
- Louisville awarded a $500,000 CSWRF loan
- Pooler awarded a $5,500,000 CWSRF loan
- Tybee Island awarded a $500,000 CWSRF loan
- Warrenton awarded a $337,000 DWSRF loan
Project and loan details:
City of Baconton
The $189,000 Georgia Fund loan will finance the installation of a mechanical bar screen at the wastewater treatment facility. This project will enhance the treatment process to ensure compliance with water quality standards. The city will pay 2.44% interest on the 20-year loan.
Brunswick-Glynn County Joint Water & Sewer Commission
The $15,000,000 CWSRF conservation loan will finance the rehabilitation of the Academy Creek and Dunbar Creek Wastewater Treatment Plants and the sewer collection system. This project will improve the capacity and operation of the water pollution control facilities and reduce inflow and infiltration in the sewer system. The commission will pay 2.38% interest on the 30-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate because a portion of the project is a conservation activity.
Carroll County Water Authority
The $25,000,000 DWSRF loan will finance improvements and upgrades at the Snake Creek Water Treatment Plant. This project will increase capacity of the plant to address the county’s growing demand, upgrade the coagulation treatment process, and provide redundancy in cases of emergency or maintenance. The authority will pay 1.86% interest on the 20-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate because a portion of the project is a conservation activity.
City of Cuthbert
The $781,000 DWSRF loan will finance replacing water mains and installing an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system. This project will conserve water, improve leak detection, and reduce costs. The city will pay 0.94% interest 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 $351,450.
City of Doerun
The $760,000 DWSRF loan will finance updating the city’s water distribution system, constructing a new well, and installing an automatic meter reading (AMR) system. This project will reduce water loss and provide the city with a redundant source of water. The city will pay 1.57% interest on the 20-year loan, which 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 $304,000.
City of Fairmount
The $600,000 CWSRF loan will finance the extension of gravity sewer lines and reduce the number of households using septic tanks. This project will allow for economic development and improve the city’s water treatment process to ensure compliance with water quality standards. The city will pay 0.94% interest 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 $210,000.
City of Fayetteville
The $19,474,000 CWSRF the loan will finance rehabilitating and replacing equipment at the Whitewater Creek Water Pollution Control Plant. The project will improve the reliability and efficiency of the plant and ensure compliance with water quality standards. The city will pay 2.62% interest on the 30-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate because a portion of the project is a conservation activity.
City of Funston
The $206,000 DWSRF loan will finance replacing manual-read water meters with an automatic meter reading (AMR) system and the installation of new water mains. The project will reduce water loss, increase billing accuracy, and meter reading efficiency. The city will pay 0.50% interest on the 10-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 $72,100.
City of Griffin
The $4,000,000 CWSRF loan will finance improvements to the city’s stormwater conveyance system. This project will address crucial repairs to the system to improve stormwater management and nonpoint source pollution control. The city will pay 0.94% interest on the 20-year loan, which is eligible for a reduced interest rate because the city is a WaterFirst Community.
City of Ivey
The $340,000 DWSRF loan will finance replacing manual-read water meters with an automatic meter reading (AMR) system, rehabilitating and replacing water mains, and rehabilitating the city’s elevated water tank. The project will reduce water loss, increase billing accuracy, and improve meter reading efficiency. The city will pay 1.09% interest on the 20-year loan, which 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 $102,000.
City of Jersey
The $750,000 DWSRF loan will finance installing a new well, water meters and water mains, and renovating the existing well and the Walton County interconnection. The city currently relies on the county interconnection to help meet its normal water demands. This project will allow the city to meet its demands and save money through water conservation. The city will pay 1.48% interest on the 20-year loan, which 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 $337,500.
City of Lavonia
The $2,206,000 CWSRF loan will finance replacing aging components of the sewerage collection system and upgrading the wastewater treatment facility. This project will create significant efficiencies throughout the collection system and accommodate increased flows from the new industrial park. The city will pay 1.12% interest on the 20-year loan, which 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 $750,000.
City of Louisville
The $500,000 CWSRF loan will finance the rehabilitation of two pump stations, the installation of a bar screen at the main pump station, and the installation of process control instrumentation at the water pollution control plant. This project will help the plant operate more efficiently. The city will pay 1.94% on the 20-year loan. The city is eligible for principal forgiveness up to $200,000.
City of Pooler
The $5,500,000 CWSRF loan will finance installing forcemain and sewage pumps, replacing aging and leaking components of the sewage collection system, and upgrading the Benton Lift Station and the Towne Lake Lift Station. This project will create significant efficiencies throughout the sewer system and accommodate increased capacity to serve a growing population. The city will pay 0.94% interest on the 20-year loan, which is eligible for a reduced interest rate because the city of Pooler is a WaterFirst Community.
City of Tybee Island
The $500,000 Georgia Fund loan will finance the construction of a 150 kilowatt solar photovoltaic system adjacent to the wastewater treatment plant. This project will provide energy efficiency improvements to the wastewater treatment plant and lower peak energy pricing and the overall cost for electricity to operate the plant. The city will pay 0.94% interest on the 20-year loan, which is eligible for a reduced interest rate because Tybee Island is a WaterFirst Community.
City of Warrenton
The $337,000 DWSRF loan will finance the installation of chemical feed equipment and an air-stripper to reduce disinfection byproducts in the water system. The city will pay 1.94% on the 20-year loan, which includes principal forgiveness up to $168,500.
Other GEFA board actions:
City of Atlanta
The board approved a $20,000,000 increase to a $25,000,000 DWSRF loan approved in August 2018.
Eatonton-Putnam County Water and Sewer Authority
The board approved a change to special conditions to GEFA loans approved in September 2007 and January 2012.
City of Elberton
The board approved a scope modification to a $2,500,000 DWSRF loan approved in May 2018.
Hall County
The board approved a change to special conditions to a CWSRF loan approved in September 2008.
City of Hiawassee
The board ratified an emergency loan authorized by the GEFA executive director on July 29, 2019. The city received an $485,000 Georgia Fund loan to replace the sludge dewatering unit at its wastewater treatment facility. The city will pay 1.06% interest on the 10-year loan.
Lake Lanier Islands Development Authority
The board approved a modification of loan terms and a change to special conditions to a CWSRF loan approved in 2008.
City of Lumpkin
The board ratified an emergency loan authorized by the GEFA executive director on July 23, 2019. The city received a $394,000 Georgia Fund loan to repair a collapsed sewer main. The city will pay 2.44% interest on the 20-year loan.
City of Sandersville
The board approved a $3,000,000 interim Georgia Fund loan to finance replacing the headworks at the water pollution control plant and installing a third clarifier and sludge pump to address the solids processing issues at the plant. The city will pay 1.41% interest on the five-year interim loan.
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.
The Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA), headquartered in Atlanta, provides financing for a variety of energy, land, and water projects. Since 1985, GEFA has approved financial commitments totaling more than $4.5 billion to local governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations.
