The Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) has awarded $32.23 million in grant funding to 10 communities to address PFAS and other emerging contaminants in drinking water and wastewater systems.
The program targets upgrades to water treatment infrastructure, including pilot testing, installation of remediation technologies, well construction, and system upgrades. The funding supports both drinking water and wastewater facilities across small and disadvantaged communities.
The $32.23 million funding package includes $18.5 million through the Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC) Program, $9.2 million through the Emerging Contaminants Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (EC-DW), and $3.6 million through the Emerging Contaminants Clean Water State Revolving Fund (EC-CW). Federal funding is provided through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
Several communities will implement pilot testing and deploy PFAS remediation technologies at existing treatment plants. Augusta-Richmond County will use a $3.72 million grant to install PFAS treatment systems at its drinking water plant. The Chatsworth Water Works Commission will apply $6.84 million to pilot and install remediation technologies, building on prior funding for the same project.