16 Georgia Communities Awarded $34.3 million for Drinking Water Projects

The Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) has awarded $34,330,000 in grant funding to 16 communities through several federal programs to upgrade drinking water infrastructure and address PFAS and other emerging contaminants.

Small, Underserved, and Disadvantaged Communities (SUDC) Grant Program

Total awarded: $2,100,000 | 6 communities

Funded through the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act, these grants help communities upgrade infrastructure to comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Byromville
Award: $324,000
The grant will fund the installation of a booster pump system and the construction of a filter and chemical feed building to comply with drinking water standards.

Damascus
Award: $541,201
The grant will fund improvements to the well and the construction of a chemical feed building to comply with drinking water standards.

Doerun
Award: $60,000
The grant will fund engineering for the improvement of a secondary well and chemical feed building to comply with drinking water standards.

Ephesus
Award: $32,799
The grant will fund improvements to the well and construction of a chemical feed building to comply with drinking water standards. The city previously received a $371,000 grant awarded in July 2024.

Hahira
Award: $1,102,000
The grant will fund the construction of a new well to comply with drinking water standards.

Lexington
Award: $40,000
The grant will fund engineering for the construction of a treatment system and chemical feed building to comply with drinking water standards.

Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC) Program

Total awarded: $19,400,000 | 6 communities

Funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), these grants address PFAS and other emerging contaminants in public drinking water systems.

Augusta-Richmond County
Award: $3,720,000
The grant will fund pilot testing and the installation of the determined PFAS remediation technology at the drinking water plant.

Ringgold
Award: $2,580,000
The grant will fund a pilot study for PFAS remediation technologies, the installation of the determined PFAS remediation technology for the drinking water plant, and the construction of a well.

Summerville
Award: $4,500,000
The grant will fund the installation of PFAS remediation technology and upgrading the city's drinking water plant.

Talbot County BOC
Award: $4,300,000
The grant will fund the construction of a new well and the installation of PFAS remediation technology at the drinking water plant.

Tennille
Award: $2,500,000
The grant will fund the installation of 1,1-Dichloroethane remediation technology in the drinking water plant.

White
Award: $1,800,000
The grant will fund a pilot study for PFAS remediation technologies at the drinking water plant.

Emerging Contaminants Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (EC-DW)

Total awarded: $9,234,000 | 4 communities

Chatsworth Water Works Commission
Award: $6,837,000
The grant will fund pilot testing and the installation of the determined PFAS remediation technology for the drinking water plant. The Chatsworth Water Works Commission also previously received a $7,304,000 increase to its $3,500,000 grant for this project, awarded in December 2023.

Dalton Utilities
Award: $1,370,000
The grant will fund a pilot study of technologies for the pre-treatment and removal of PFAS contaminants at the water treatment plant.

Gray
Award: $400,000
The grant will fund a pilot study for PFAS remediation technologies at the city's drinking water plant.

Harris County
Award: $627,000
The grant will fund a pilot study for PFAS remediation technologies at the county's drinking water plant.

Emerging Contaminants Clean Water State Revolving Fund (EC-CW)

Total awarded: $3,596,000 | 1 community

Dalton Utilities
Award: $3,596,000
The grant will fund a pilot study of technologies for the pre-treatment, removal, and destruction of PFAS contaminants at the wastewater treatment plant. This is the second EC-CW grant provided for the project.