This bill requires local governments to monitor and report quarterly the volume of surface water withdrawn from a waterway and how much treated water is returned.  If the local government returns less than 75 percent of the water to the waterway they would not be allowed to provide any new water service connection to any residence, building or other facility.  Lots that have septic tanks and are on public water systems (having more than 70,000 connections, or more than 200 accounts per square mile) would have to be at least three acres, but could not have septic tanks permitted during periods of exceptional drought.  Existing smaller lots on septic tanks in such areas have to be connected to sewer by July 1, 2016, and no new water connections can be made in areas failing to make sewer lines available for connections.     

This bill would exempt interbasin transfers from certain parts of the Tennessee River from interbasin transfer regulations.  

This bill would allow cities other than Atlanta to impose a special water and sewer projects cost tax.

SB 122 authorizes local governments and the state (at their discretion) to contract with private firms to procure permits and licenses, plan, finance, build, acquire, operate and maintain a water reservoir, facility or system -- acting in concert with GEFA's Water Supply Division if they wish. The local government may pay the firm with the user fees, purchase payments and other revenue for these services. This bill also establishes a process that counties can partner with other governments to enter into agreements up to 50 years with a private partner. Unlike proposals from previous sessions, SB 122 ensures that local governments participate in all aspects of the process.

Current state law prohibits the interbasin transfer (IBT) of water from a basin outside the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District to within. SB 374 overrides this, allowing surface water withdrawal from the Tennessee River Basin (in Chickamauga Valley & Lookout Mtn.) to be exempt from that restriction.  It also does away with other IBT regulations in Georgia as far as withdrawal from the Tennessee River Basin is concerned.    

This resolution establishes a joint Senate/House study committee to analyze the current status of Georgia's reservoir system and strategic needs for additional water supply.  The study is to include the identification of creative financing options for reservoirs and water supply enhancement.