Proposed Dawson Reservoir Could Solve Atlanta’s Water Woes

Two developers are vying for the opportunity to build a reservoir in the 10,000-acre plus Dawson Forest. The project would yield up to 100 million gallons of water per day, enough to serve the rapidly growing Atlanta region.

But don’t get too excited just yet.

Before a decision is made regarding the proposed Dawson Forest reservoir, a final result must be reached in the tri-state water war. Until the water war is resolved, Georgia’s leaders are understandably hesitant to make a move on a river basin that is shared with either Florida or Alabama. The Dawson Forest Reservoir would pull from the Etowah River Basin, which flows from Georgia into Alabama.

The proposed reservoir must also overcome opposition from local residents worried about flooding in the area and from environmental advocates concerned about the effects of piping water from the Etowah basin.

Additionally, the project faces a legal obstacle. When the General Assembly created the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District, lawmakers prohibited piping water from outside of the district to those inside its boundaries. Dawson County is outside of the metro water district.

The two competing developers, American Water Co. and Republic Resources Inc. recently presented plans to the Dawson County Commission for the reservoir, which would be built on property the city of Atlanta purchased around 40 years ago.

The largest private provider of water in the United States, American Water Co. is New-Jersey based, but was brought to the project by publicly owned Etowah Water & Sewer Authority, who felt that they couldn’t take on a project of this magnitude without additional support. Georgia’s General Assembly passed legislation this year allowing such partnerships to finance and build water improvements. American Water plans a $650 million reservoir covering 1,200 acres that would yield 90 million gallons of water daily.

Atlanta-based Republic Resources proposed an $800 million investment in a 2,200-acre reservoir that would yield 100 million gallons of water daily. Under their plan, Dawson County would receive a one-time $7 million “advisory fee” for its assistance with the project and estimated annual payments of $8.3 million to $10.2 million upon full operation of the reservoir. The City of Atlanta would also receive $10 million in advisory fees.

Both competitors plan to preserve 8,000 acres of the Dawson Forest as perpetual green space.