Town Hall meeting planned to discuss new water reclamation plant in Forsyth County

Forsyth County leaders are answering residents concerns about the new water reclamation facility planned for 99 acres in the northeast part of the county during an upcoming town hall meeting.
 
During a recent public hearing, Deputy County Manager Tim Merritt reported to commissioners offering some details about the plan for the 99 acre site.

He said, "We have not engineered the facility nor do we have a set of plans. We expect the facility will be constructed in phases, beginning in 2020, with an initial capacity of 2.5 million gallons per day. Then expanding to 5 million gallons per day and then to ten million."

Merritt also spoke about the plan for addressing some of the top concerns and said, "It is highly likely that we will also design and construct odor control processes to virtually eliminate off-site odors. We are planning to design and construct backup systems and equipment."

He said they'll place water that doesn't meet EPD standards into a special tank where it will be retreated before being released into the lake.

The water released into Lake Lanier from the proposed water reclamation facility will be cleaner than the water currently being pulled and treated from the lake according to Merritt.

He says the county began planning for this facility in 2002 and hopes increase their sewer service to reduce the number of septic systems and private wastewater facilities.

The county currently manages 1 drinking water facility and 7 water reclamation facilities. They also manage a water distribution system of approximately 1,066 miles and a waste water collection system of approximately 590 miles with 57 pump stations.
 
Merritt also touted the achievements of the county's water department and said, "In 2018, the county was recognized by the ga association of water professionals for achieving gold status for both the distribution and collection systems. The award is given to those systems that operated and maintained in an environmentally concientious and cost effective manner as determined by an audit of waste water professionals."

Residents are invited to learn more during a town hall meeting Wednesday at 7pm at the County Administration Building in downtown Cumming.