Fulton County Approves Water, Sewer Rates Increase

FULTON COUNTY, GA — Beginning Jan. 1, the Fulton County Department of Public Works will increase water and sewer rates for its customers.

On Dec. 4, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners voted to approve a combined water and sewer rate for residential customers of approximately 5 percent. The typical household water and sewer bill is estimated to be approximately $3.34 a month for an average 6,000 gallon per month for residential users. Once the increase is implemented, the cost to residents will rise from $66.43 to $69.77 per month. The proposed rate increases will be applied to water and sewer use beginning Jan. 1.

“The continued need to make significant investments into capital improvements in North and South Fulton County is what’s driving the rate increase slated to begin the first of the year,” said David Clark, Director Fulton County Department of Public Works. “While we do understand that any increase to utilities can impact household budgets, our goal is to ensure that Fulton County provides the improvements and services needed to effectively operate.”

In addition to capital improvements, the rate increase will also allow Fulton County to move forward with plans to undertake a comprehensive capacity and infrastructure study of services within the South Fulton area, the county said. The study will provide insight into how to effectively determine how to improve services for residents in South Fulton.

Fulton County remains one of the lowest priced regional utilities, the county said. The rate increase will be used to continue work outlined in Fulton County’s Capital Improvement Program Projects, which include improvements to four areas:

1. Water System Improvements
   1. Water Tank Security and Painting Measures
   2. Water Main extensions along Medlock Bridge Road and within Alpharetta
2. Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansions
   1. Construction of Big Creek WRF expansion to 32 MGD
   2. Camp Creek WRF Clarifier Rehabilitation
   3. Camp Creek WRF UV Improvements
3. Wastewater Collection System Improvements
   1. 14 Pump Station Upgrades
   1. Cobb County Diversion from Big Creek
4. Water and Wastewater Relocations & Repairs
   1. GDOT and TSPLOST roadway projects
   1. Routine capital improvements and repairs

In 2017, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners approved an initial three-year funding plan needed to construct the immediate projects the 2016 – 2025 Capital Improvement Program. Based on the recent financial analysis, to complete the revised 2020 – 2026 Capital Improvement Program, Fulton County must provide additional funding for the capital improvement projects.

Fulton County's water and sewer service area includes the cities of Alpharetta, Milton and Johns Creek.

Over the past three years, Fulton County Public Works staff has begun implementing projects in the Capital Improvement Program. These projects include the Camp Creek Clarifier Upgrade, the Big Creek - Cobb County Diversion project, and construction of the Little River expansion facility. Additionally, the design of the Big Creek facility has progressed and staff is estimating a total construction budget of approximately $300 million will be needed for the expansion.

Based on the work undertaken over the past three years and the need to address the Inflow and Infiltration into the sewer system under the Spill Mitigation Program, Public Works has updated the Capital Improvement Program to include the $40 million in funds for the Spill Mitigation Program and $300 million for the Big Creek expansion. The revised Capital Improvement Program was then reevaluated for total revenue needs in the spring and summer of 2019.

For more information, call 404-612-7547 or email ray.wooten@fultoncountyga.gov.