Public Utilities
Overview
The Citizens of Dahlonega are served by one of the best utility systems in the state of Georgia. With state certified crews that are on call twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, the 7,500 residents of Dahlonega can rest assured that their water and wastewater needs are being met. Through a utility system composed of over seventy miles of drinking water lines, fifty miles of gravity/force mains, and over twenty pumping stations, Dahlonega’s Utility System is well prepared to handle today’s needs as well as future needs. Through proper planning and sound financial practices, the City’s Utility System will continue to operate in a professional manner and deliver the highest quality of service to its customers.
For after-hour emergencies please contact 706-864-3633 to report the issue and City Staff will be dispatched.
Like many Americans, you want to be confident that the water from your tap is safe for you and your family. The 2022 Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) provides important information about Dahlonega’s drinking water quality. We test your water for various organic and inorganic substances, adhering strictly to state and federal regulations. The results of these tests are compiled into the report and made available to customers by July 1 of the following year, as required in the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Safe Drinking Water Act. You can view the current report on our website or pick up a hard copy of the report at City Hall located at 465 Riley Road, Dahlonega.
The City’s Water Treatment Facility provides safe, quality drinking water to the residents of Dahlonega and has received numerous awards for outstanding operations in the state of Georgia. Our source of water is derived from the Yahoola Creek Reservoir, a 140-acre lake completed in 2003 through a joint venture with Lumpkin County. The water is treated through a state of the art “Pall” Membrane Filtration System that was implemented in 2010. The facility can currently treat 6 MGD (Millions of Gallons Per Day – 4 MGD/2MGD redundancy) with an expansion footprint of 10 MGD. The treatment plant is operated by state certified treatment specialist that ensure the city’s drinking water meets the requirements of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division. The City of Dahlonega uses the services of JWS to assist with long-range planning, testing, and operations.
The City’s Wastewater Treatment Facility ensures that Dahlonega’s wastewater is treated to the highest quality before it returns to the Yahoola Creek Watershed. The Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) Treatment Facility went into service in 1996. The current system has a permitted discharge of 1.44 MGD monthly average and a weekly average of 1.8 MGD. In 2017, the facility, through SPLOST funding, upgraded its filters to an “Aqua Minidisk Filtration System”, installed a new UV Disinfection System and upgraded to a Variable Speed Aeration System. These new components allow the facility to meet very stringent water quality discharge permit requirements as well as achieve energy savings. The system is operated by state certified technicians that truly care about the environment and the Citizens of Dahlonega. The City of Dahlonega uses the services of JWS to assist with long-range planning, testing, and operations.
As an element of the Finance Department, utility billing and collection is administered through the City’s integrated utility billing and customer information system that includes monthly meter reading, billing and collection, and customer service support for residential and commercial customers of water service, sewer service, stormwater, and garbage pick-up. Customers may sign up for new service, obtain account information, or have their services discontinued.
The Water Distribution & Sewer Collection Department is responsible for all matters with water once it leaves the Water Plant until it reaches the Wastewater Treatment Plant. This department is constantly performing all necessary maintenance on the 70 miles of water lines and 50+ miles of sewer lines to ensure the residents of Dahlonega are constantly met with the high-quality service and water they deserve. This crew’s work sometimes goes well beyond normal business hours, as they provide 24-hour on-call service for emergencies, as well as schedule many of the major projects to be completed at night to limit inconveniences to the public. Our trained, state-licensed operators make certain all jobs are done in compliance with the Georgia Rural Water and EPD standards. The goal of this department is to make sure the City of Dahlonega continues to “flow” efficiently, both day and night.
Resources
FAQs
Sewer Contacts:
Kelli-Ann Sottile
Municipal Permitting Unit, EPD
Wastewater Regulatory Program
Email: Kelli-ann.sottile@dnr.ga.gov
Phone: 404-463-4945
Josh Hayes
Environmental Engineer
Municipal Permitting Unit, EPD
Wastewater Regulatory Program
Email: Josh.Hayes @dnr.ga.gov
Phone: 404-463-1834
Address:
2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Suite 1152 – East Tower
Atlanta, GA 30334
Required Number of Site Plan Sets for Submittal:
1 set – for all other funding types
Cover page with narrative
Water Contacts:
Will Guinn
Environmental Engineer
EPD Mountain District Office
Email: William.guinn@dnr.ga.gov
Phone: 770-387-4900
Address:
P.O. Box 3250
16 Center Road
Cartersville, Georgia 30120
Required Number of Site Plan Sets for submittal:
3 sets – If funding comes from GEFA or SRF
2 sets – for all other funding types
Learn about the standards for public water systems here.
Upon proper application, a discount of $15.00 monthly will be applied to the minimum water bill in which the head of the household is 65 years of age or older. Applicant must also verify through their latest tax return that total household income is less than $20,650 annually.
NEW SERVICE – Parties interested in new service must complete a Water Service Application and submit account establishment fee and deposit at City Hall between 8 AM – 4:45 PM, Monday through Friday. NEW SERVICE FEES: New Service Account Fee - $25.00 Deposit - A cash deposit, in advance, is required for all premises occupied by someone other than the owner. Deposit refunds will be mailed after the final bill is completely processed. A deposit is required on all mobile homes.
Residential – $250.00
Business – Two (2) times the average previous water bill for the account
You may report a Water, Sewer or Road emergency by contacting City Hall at 706-864-6133 during normal business hours. For after-hour emergencies please contact 706-864-3633 to report the issue and City Staff will be dispatched.
When you are discontinuing service or making a change, please submit your request in writing including account number, name, and address. Customer must also provide a forwarding address for final billing information and deposit refund.
The payment options are by mail, dropbox, bank draft, online or payment in person. For more information on these visit our bill payment page.
