LIBERTY COUNTY MEETS WITH STATE OFFICIALS TO REVIEW WATER QUALITY STUDY

LIBERTY COUNTY, GA - February 26, 2026 - Guided by community input,
Liberty County officials met with the Georgia Environmental Protection
Division (EPD) to gain a clearer understanding of the rigorous analysis
conducted to ensure the proposed Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) meets
the state's stringent water quality standards.

In a meeting requested by the Liberty County Development Authority
(LCDA), engineers and scientists from EPD's Watershed Protection Branch
provided Liberty County officials an overview of the intensive field study and
environmental review EPD conducted on a potential discharge into the
Laurel View River when the project was initially proposed. In the meeting,
Liberty County learned that the study findings remain valid.

"The insight we received from our state's most respected water quality
experts represents a milestone moment for our entire community's quality of
life," said State Representative Al Williams, chair of the Liberty County
Development Authority (LCDA) Board. "By leading the way in smarter
wastewater management, Liberty County is setting a powerful example of
economic growth that aligns with protection of local waterways and natural
resources."

LCDA emphasized that projects of this scale require careful planning and
scientifically based evidence of potential impacts.
"It was important for us to learn how extensively this project has been studied
so we can share that with our community," said LCDA CEO Brynn Grant. "This
project did not advance when initially proposed because of the major
recession that changed the economic climate. It was significant to hear EPD
reaffirm that their favorable assessment of the project still stands based on
the research."

Liberty County officials learned that the State's Coastal Georgia Regional
Water Plan recognizes the importance of freshwater inputs to estuaries,
noting that treated freshwater discharges from municipal and industrial
systems are vital to maintaining coastal ecosystems. At full future build-out,
the proposed water reclamation facility's maximum discharge would
represent just over 1% of the existing freshwater flow in the Laurel View River
system.

The proposed WRF will use advanced Membrane Bioreactor (MBR)
technology, which produces exceptionally high-quality treated water
enabling much of the water to be safely reused for irrigation and industrial
cooling rather than discharged. Any remaining effluent will be released
through a submerged diffused outfall engineered for rapid mixing and
minimal ecological impact.

County leaders have emphasized that modern wastewater infrastructure is
essential to Liberty County's long-term economic competitiveness. Limited
sewer capacity has constrained job creation, industrial recruitment, and tax
base growth. The new WRF would provide treatment capacity needed to
support high-quality development while reducing reliance on septic systems
that pose environmental and public-health risks when they fail.

Local leaders stressed that no final decisions have been made. LCDA is
actively meeting with residents, environmental organizations including
Ogeechee Riverkeeper and One Hundred Miles, and other stakeholders to
ensure the project aligns with community expectations for environmental
stewardship. Questions are being addressed, and community-wide
discussions are being scheduled.

"We are committed to transparency every step of the way, promising clear
communication, regulatory oversight, and public accountability," Grant
emphasized. "We live here too and only want the very best and safest
outcomes for our families, friends, and neighbors."