By Eric Curl
Feb. 1, 2025 – The city is forming a new utility partnership with Effingham County and Bryan County to address increasing water demands for the region, as outlined in a recent staff memo. To subsidize anticipated costs, the state is expected to invest $232.5 million in the form of grants, with an additional $269.2 million to be made available in the form of low-zero interest loans.
The governor’s proposed 2025 budget recommends a total of $501.7M be appropriated through grants and loans to support the project’s initial infrastructure:
- Effingham Co. – $319M for new intake/plant.
- Savannah – $146M for expansion of I&D Plant
- Bryan Co. – $36.7M for transmission lines.
The proposed state funding comes after the city council approved in September 2024 an almost $12.6 million contract to upgrade the Industrial & Domestic Water Treatment Plant. The upgrades are part of the city’s plan to expand the plant’s treatment capacity and reduce the amount of groundwater it withdraws by 2025, as mandated by the state to prevent saltwater intrusion, even as area growth and development is increasing demand, as previously reported.
In addition, environmental advocates and economic developers recently reached an agreement over water rights at the site of Hyundai’s electric vehicle plant in Bryan County near Savannah, as reported by Benjamin Payne for GPB.
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