Lawmakers propose federal dollars for Atlanta water

(The Center Square) — Federal lawmakers from Georgia announced legislation they said would help pay for Atlanta’s water infrastructure upgrades.

U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, both D-Georgia, introduced the City of Atlanta Water Infrastructure Enhancement Act. U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams, D-Georgia, introduced a companion piece in the U.S. House.

The measure adds $25 million to the Water Resources Development Act of 1992 for Atlanta water projects, increasing the total authorization from $75 million to $100 million. However, Congress would have to allocate the funding when it considers the federal budget.

The move follows a string of recent water main breaks that brought the city to a standstill for days, leaving thousands of Atlantans without water. The legislation would permit the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to handle water infrastructure projects in Atlanta, including those involving drinking water, stormwater and wastewater.

“Clean, safe, healthy drinking water is not a luxury — it’s a necessity. For families, for seniors, and for businesses in the community, any interruption of safe drinking water is an emergency,” Ossoff said in a statement.

The proposed money for the Gate City is just the latest taxpayer-funded handout for Georgia cities to upgrade their water systems. In a release, Ossoff took a victory lap for doling out tax money for local projects.

Last month, Ossoff, Warnock and Williams announced $993,500 from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which some call the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to review Atlanta’s water infrastructure.

In May, the senator said the federal government’s funding package included $959,752 to help Rockdale County replace a 50-year-old water pump station.

Ossoff also introduced the East Point Water Infrastructure Enhancement Act last month, which would permit the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to handle water infrastructure projects in the city.

The senator announced in May that College Park would receive $959,752 in federal tax dollars to install a “new water storage tank and booster system.” Proponents said the project would ensure residents could access clean drinking water.

In 2022, Ossoff and U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath, D-Georgia, pushed the Chattahoochee River Act, which authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to work on water projects along the Chattahoochee River in Georgia.