Columbus has sewer and water pipe problems. $10 million in help could be on the way
Columbus will join other Georgia cities in having a new federal spending account specifically for water infrastructure projects, thanks to a new bill that passed through the Senate on Thursday.
The Georgia Stormwater Management Act, introduced by Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA), is intended to help mend the issues with aging water infrastructure around Columbus.
“I’ve heard consistently from local leaders about concerns with vital water infrastructure projects across Columbus,” Ossoff said in a press release.
“The Senator worked with the Mayor, Columbus Water Works, and local government to develop this legislation given the needs of the city,” Ossoff’s communications director, Jake Best, wrote in an email to the Ledger-Enquirer.
The account is able to be created because of the 1992 Water Resources Development Act, Section 219. That section projects authorize the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to provide assistance in planning, design and construction of water infrastructure projects.
Now that Ossoff’s bill passed specifically for Columbus, the Army Corps of Engineers could help work on future projects in Columbus, but it needs to be authorized by Congress, followed by funding appropriation for specific projects.
“The upgrade to these pipes would improve quality of life and resiliency,” according to Ossoff’s press release. There have been instances where older pipes have broken or leaked, such as the incident that caused bad drinking water for residents last May.
Ossoff is proposing a $10 million dollar appropriation into the fund, which must be passed by Congress.
Section 219 accounts exist throughout Georgia.
“Atlanta has had this for a long time, since the early years of the Water Resources Development Act,” Chris Manganiello, water policy director for the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, told the Ledger-Enquirer. “Their funds went from $75 million to $100 million this year.”
Manganiello declined to specify the amount in Atlanta’s account and how many projects it has funded, but he said he is aware of, “at least one storm water project that has been used from this funding.”
Albany’s Section 219 account limit is up to $109 million, according to Manganiello.
Henry Jacobs, Chattahoochee Riverkeeper deputy director, said the funding is competitive throughout the state.
“Mechanism to fund water infrastructure project is better than no mechanism,” Jacobs said in an email to the Ledger-Enquirer. “However, because other communities have these accounts, there will be more competition for scarce resources in the Congressional appropriations process.”
The Section 219 rules require non-federal sponsors to provide at least 25% of the project costs and 100% of operation and maintenance costs after construction.
“This new authority is a key first step to then next appropriate funds for local projects,” Manganiello said.
