The Greene County Development Authority, Board of Commissioners, and private investors have entered into an intergovernmental agreement to expand the county’s wastewater collection system by $13.4 million.
According to the development authority at its Aug. 13 meeting, the project's purpose centers on developing the east sector of the county to accommodate residential and commercial growth.
The BOC unanimously approved the agreement and its $2 million investment at a July 26 called meeting. According to minutes from that meeting, the county plans to sell 579 residential units in the area, which would allow it to recover its investment.
County Manager Byron Lombard confirmed the breakdown of the $13.4 million investment. In addition to the board’s $2 million, the agreement includes $4.7 million from Reynolds, $3.7 million from Piedmont Water, which operates the current system, and $3 million from the Lake Oconee Estates & Beach Club development, which plans to add 372 residential units.
Lombard said the project directly impacts economic development by bringing wastewater treatment collection to areas of the county where it is currently unavailable.
The project plans to add approximately 4,000 residential units of wastewater treatment capacity within the project area, which will increase the potential development density of real property within the area. According to the development authority, this also reduces the up-front cost to developers.
Developers have faced significant water and wastewater delivery challenges throughout the county, resulting in significant delays and substantial costs. According to the development authority, the project also benefits environmental concerns, as septic systems are known to contaminate rivers and lakes within watersheds.
The project involves expanding the wastewater collection system along State Route 44, across the Richland Connector, and then south to the Walker Church Community.
The expanded collection system will consist of three submersible pumping stations that will receive and transport wastewater along several county corridors to Piedmont’s existing Carey Station reclamation facility. Piedmont will manage the construction, operation, and maintenance of the project.
Reynolds Lake Oconee President Rabun Neal, who is also vice chairman of the development authority, praised the project.
“It is great we have a private and public partnership,” Neal said. “Providing sewer service for us in the neighboring east sector will benefit the county and new residents moving here.”