Ginn: Managing Georgia’s water supply for future generations

Most Georgians don’t think twice about turning on the tap to wash their hands or clean up after a meal with family and friends, but behind every drop is a water system that requires planning, investment and collaboration to be reliable and safe.

At the end of the 2025 Legislative Session, I sponsored Senate Bill 368 to get a head start for the following legislative session, where the bill would remain available for a vote. This bill establishes the Northeast Regional Water Authority and would protect Georgia’s water supply for future generations by creating an organization dedicated to managing and investing in Northeast Georgia’s most critical resource: water. After working with engineers and operators in five county water systems, we held our first formal public meeting in January 2024. However, Northeast Georgia has used a lot of water since then.

Our state is rich in natural resources, including timber, agriculture, minerals, energy and fisheries, all of which depend on an adequate and reliable water supply. As of late October, however, nearly 92% of Georgia was experiencing drought conditions. Water shortages of this magnitude affect everyone. I remember the drought that gripped our state for 161 weeks from 2006 to 2009. Our agriculture industry suffered nearly $800 million in losses, and at one point, the Atlanta metro area had less than a 90-day supply of water left in its reservoirs. Additionally, our tourism sector lost almost $90 million in recreational spending, and wildfires sparked by dry conditions burned thousands of acres of land in South Georgia. We were blessed last week with some widespread rain in our region, and I was thankful to receive it!

When our water supply runs short, local governments are forced to do more with less. The demands from residents, businesses and farmers don’t change, but our supply can decrease dramatically. During the driest spells, our state has even had disputes with neighboring states for the right to draw water from shared rivers and streams. You remember the “Tri-State Water Wars.”

The Northeast Regional Water Authority Act would establish a framework for effective water management by bringing together local governments in Banks, Elbert, Franklin, Jackson and Madison counties. The Authority would also collaborate with cities and other public water systems in the region. I believe working together on a multi-county approach would save taxpayers money and provide more opportunities for drought resistance and improved reliability. Each of the current water systems in the five counties could utilize the Authority as a source for both generation and transmission of water.

SB 368 would also provide the Authority with the power to acquire, construct and maintain regional water supply reservoirs and sell water-related facilities. Additionally, the Authority would be able to issue revenue bonds and partner with state and federal agencies, such as the Georgia Environmental Protection Division of the Department of Natural Resources, the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This ability to work alongside state and federal organizations would streamline construction while simultaneously serving more Georgians with improved infrastructure at a lower cost.

The Authority would operate on a self-sustaining basis, using revenue from water services to fund future projects, without placing an additional burden on state taxpayers. Other counties may join or withdraw from the Authority as needed, providing local leaders with the flexibility to adapt to changing needs. This type of collaboration is exactly what our region needs to sustain our water demand and be prepared to supply future residents and economic development projects. For example, the Upper Oconee Basin Authority took two decades to get the legislation moving.

Now, I am interested in advancing this legislation for the future generations of our region. There’s no doubt this legislation would serve as a critical investment for the future of Northeast Georgia. Communities throughout our region are benefitting from rapid growth, and we must ensure our resources keep pace with increasing demand. New neighborhoods are being built, new businesses are moving in and more families are choosing to call this part of the state home.

A well-managed water supply has a direct impact on our ability to sustain economic growth well into the future. Currently, two of the five counties are experiencing water shortages, which adversely affect their current residents. Unfortunately, these counties are part of a list of counties across our state where new businesses cannot easily connect to local water systems because capacity is already stretched thin. Imagine settling on a location to start a new business or home, only to be denied service because connecting to a water line is impossible. Even worse, imagine the thousands of jobs that would be shut out from numerous hardworking communities across our state.

For many years, I have said that good government should make life easier, not harder. Beyond protecting our present-day standard of living, this bill also preserves the future we are working hard to build for our children and grandchildren. As your state senator, my goal is to keep Northeast Georgia the best place to call home. It is my honor to introduce this common-sense approach to a growing challenge, and I look forward to continuing to work on this bill during the 2026 legislative session, or however long it may take!