Forsyth County to Build Lake Lanier Intake, Gain Water Independence by 2030

Forsyth County announced Jan. 15, 2026 that it will construct a new water intake on Lake Lanier, a move county officials say will deliver water independence for the first time in county history. The $193 million project is scheduled for completion by 2030 and marks a major shift in how the county secures drinking water for residents, farms and businesses.

For decades the county has depended on a single intake at Lake Lanier owned by the City of Cumming, a consequence of the long-running, multi-state federal litigation known as the Tri-State Water Wars. A 2021 U.S. Supreme Court ruling cleared the path for Forsyth County to develop and operate its own intake structure, removing a legal barrier that had constrained local options and regional planning.

The county framed the project as foundational to future growth and resilience. “The new Forsyth County Water Intake will allow the county to meet the water needs of residents, farmers, businesses and others in our community,” a posting on the county’s website says. “It is a pivotal milestone for our county, decades in the making. Most importantly, it will ensure Forsyth County has a safe, reliable, high quality water supply for future generations to prosper.”

County officials have released a projected build-out timetable and background materials outlining the schedule and milestones toward 2030. The estimated $193 million price tag covers the intake construction and associated infrastructure, though detailed financing plans and permitting timelines will be developed and published as the project advances.

Local impacts will be wide-ranging. Securing an independent intake aims to reduce single-point vulnerability that has directed the county’s water planning for years, and gives Forsyth County elected leaders and utility managers more direct control over supply decisions tied to growth, agriculture and commercial needs. The project is likely to affect long-term water rates, capital budgets and intergovernmental relationships in the metro Atlanta water network as the county transitions from reliance on a neighboring city's facility to its own operations.

Work ahead includes engineering, regulatory reviews, procurement and construction phases that must meet state and federal environmental standards. County officials will oversee those processes and provide public updates as contracts and permits are finalized.

For Forsyth County residents, the intake project signals a strategic investment in local infrastructure and supply security. Over the next four years, officials will move from planning into implementation; residents should expect public meetings and periodic status reports as the county builds toward water independence by 2030.