Forsyth County Receives $32.6M to Return Treated Water to Lake Lanier

Forsyth County secured a $32.6 million state award to send treated effluent from the Fowler Water Reclamation Facility back to Lake Lanier, a step county leaders say will strengthen long-term water supply reliability and operational efficiency for residents.

On Jan. 22, 2026, Governor Brian Kemp and the Georgia Water and Sewer Infrastructure Committee approved the funding, which the county identified for construction of a pipeline and an off‑shore diffuser to return treated water to Lake Lanier. Forsyth County officials framed the investment as a major component of a coordinated water strategy that also includes the county’s recently announced raw water intake facility on Lake Lanier.

County leaders described multiple expected benefits from the project, including increased redundancy in water supply systems, improved water quality outcomes and operational savings for the utility system. Chairman Alfred John and County Manager Kevin Tanner characterized the award as a significant step toward improved water resiliency for Forsyth County communities and businesses.

The project connects two pieces of Forsyth County’s recent infrastructure push. The pipeline and diffuser are intended to provide a controlled return point for treated effluent while the raw water intake facility is designed to secure additional sources of freshwater from Lake Lanier. Together, officials said, the projects aim to reduce single‑point vulnerabilities and create more options for managing supply during droughts, high demand or system outages.

Institutionally, the state award signals prioritization of water and sewer projects at the county level and illustrates how state funding mechanisms can shape local planning. The Georgia Water and Sewer Infrastructure Committee’s grant enables Forsyth County to move beyond preliminary planning toward design and construction phases without relying solely on local rate revenue or debt for initial capital outlay.

For residents, the immediate impacts will be indirect: planners expect long-term gains in reliability and potential operational savings that could influence future utility budgets and service stability. The county has not released a construction timetable or estimated impacts on customer rates; local officials will be the primary source for implementation milestones and public meetings tied to permitting and environmental review.

What this means going forward is that Forsyth County has secured state backing for a tangible infrastructure upgrade that dovetails with its raw water intake plans. County officials will now proceed with project development steps and public notifications as required, with the outcome likely to shape water operations and planning in Forsyth County for years to come.