On February 29, 2024, the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) announced that seven communities were awarded financing totaling $38,632,500 for water, wastewater, sewer, and stormwater projects. The cities of Cumming, LaFayette, Temple and Warrenton were among the receipients.
Below are the project and loan details:
Cumming
The $960,000 CWSRF loan will finance purchasing a street sweeper and a vacuum truck. This project will help prevent sewer spills and protect impaired and threatened streams. The city will pay 1.24% on the 5-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to the city being a WaterFirst Community.
LaFayette
The $2,409,000 CSWRF conservation loan will finance replacing sewer lines and manholes. The city’s current sewer lines produce significant inflow and infiltration. This project will increase system reliability and efficiency. The city will pay 1.43% interest on the 20-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to GEFA’s affordability scoring criteria and a portion of the project is a conservation activity. The city is eligible for principal forgiveness up to $1,108,000.
Temple
The $4,472,400 CWSRF loan will finance replacing the existing undersized Williams Mill Creek outfall sanitary sewer system. The existing 10-inch sewer system will be replaced with 24-inch outfall sewer. This project will adequately manage the city’s existing sewerage capacity by redirecting the sewer to a new sewer lift station that is presently under construction. The city will pay 2.90% interest on the 20-year loan.
Warrenton
The $791,100 DWSRF loan will finance rehabilitating pump stations and upgrading the telemetry equipment. The city received a notice of violation from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division to reduce the chemical pollutants and disinfectants throughout the treatment system. This project will improve the city’s public water system to meet regulatory standards. The city will pay 0.44% 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 $711,990.
Clayton County Water Authority
The $10,000,000 CWSRF loan will finance replacing the outfall sewers. This project will reduce the inflow and infiltration in the sewer collection system and reduce operating costs. The authority will pay 1.90% on the 20-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to the city being a WaterFirst Community.
DeKalb County
The $10,000,000 CWSRF loan will finance improvements to the storm drainage system. This project will reduce flooding and stormwater pollution, increase system reliability, and improve water quality. The county will pay 2.90% on the 20-year loan.
Etowah Water and Sewer Authority
The $10,000,000 CWSRF loan will finance the upgrading and expanding of the city’s Dawson Forest Water Reclamation Facility. This project will expand the capacity to 1.25 million gallons-per-day and improve effluent quality. The authority will pay 2.90% on the 20-year loan.