By Alanna Kinnebrew

Water utilities play an important role in a community by providing an essential service. For years, many water systems have utilized partnerships by collaborating with other nearby utilities to address challenges or take advantage of opportunities. This series of three posts will highlight how a group of communities in Georgia partnered to receive a joint designation to the prestigious WaterFirst Program.

In 2012, the Newton County Water and Sewerage Authority along with the municipalities of Covington, Mansfield, Newborn, Oxford, Porterdale, and Newton County all came together and earned a multi-jurisdictional WaterFirst designation through the state. In becoming a WaterFirst Community, the Water Authority and these municipalities demonstrated commitment to responsible water stewardship for environmental and economic benefits. Since its inception in 2003, more than 50 communities (including cities, counties, and water/sewer authorities) have achieved the designation by modeling for their citizens, as well as other utilities, what it means to be good stewards of water. Thirty-seven percent of those communities have earned the designation through partnerships. While Gwinnett County is one of the largest WaterFirst Communities, even cities as small as Thunderbolt have been able to complete the process for qualification as a WaterFirst Community.

Since 2018, the program has been run by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA), which is a state agency that manages programs that conserve and improve Georgia’s energy, land, and water resources. GEFA provides loans for water, wastewater, and solid waste infrastructure; manages energy efficiency and renewable energy programs; administers land conservation loans; and manages and monitors state-owned fuel storage tanks.  

The state’s WaterFirst Communities have a demonstrated track record of implementing strategic plans that support long-term excellence in water resource management. It takes considerable effort to earn this designation. And in the case of Newton County, a significant amount of teamwork was also involved. But to obtain this designation also means that the partners have established regional coordination on water resources, developed a water education program, and thoroughly mapped out future water planning.

Besides their commitment to water stewardship, the joint designation also means that each partner of the Newton County joint application is eligible to receive financial and other benefits from the state of Georgia which include:

• Statewide recognition for environmental stewardship

• 1% interest rate reduction on GEFA loans

• Annual eligibility for water-related project applications to the Community Development Block Grant Program through the Georgia Department of Community Affairs

• Priority status for the 319(h) Grant Program administered by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division.

Driving around Newton County will reveal more than a dozen of the WaterFirst signs – since every member of the partnership displays their own sign at their specific jurisdiction. The signs are a proud symbol of the collaboration and high caliber of water management practices that the designation entails. They have continued to strive for environmental excellence in all areas of water resource management by making strides toward improving their systems, putting the community first, and continuing to maintain their WaterFirst designation as a result. Over the years, the Newton County Water and Sewerage Authority has also borrowed about $40 million from GEFA and has been able to save about $5.1 million due to the interest rate reduction awarded because of their designation.

To qualify for the WaterFirst designation, a community must fill out and submit an application along with the WaterFirst checklist. WaterFirst has a rolling application period and therefore GEFA accepts applications year-round. Click here for more details. Applicants must adequately address the targets within the 11 components of the checklist to then move on to the application review process and eventually qualify for an on-site review. The components of the checklist include the following:

1. Watershed Assessment

2. Stormwater Master Planning

3. Water Supply Planning

4. Water Supply Protection

5. Water Conservation

6. Wastewater Planning

7. Septic Tanks

8. Wastewater Treatment Plants

9. Water Reclamation and Reuse

10. Educational Outreach

11. Regional Water Planning

One frequently asked question is whether the entire checklist must be completed. In short, no. However, applicants should complete it to the best of their ability. The reviewers understand that there may be some items on the list that may not apply to a specific community because that service is not offered, but education is important. Even though the utility may not offer water distribution services, for example, they could still educate the community on water supply and the protection of said supply.

Becoming a WaterFirst Community means there is a commitment to the management and protection of shared water resources. Current designees continue to strive towards maintaining that vision and many have committed to helping others along the way.

This is part of a blog post series funded by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA).

Disclaimer: The opinions of the writers should not be considered legal advice or endorsement by GEFA.

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