DEMOREST — The City of Demorest has announced plans to develop a new surface-water treatment facility that could eventually produce up to 5 million gallons of drinking water per day for customers across Habersham County.
The city said the project is intended to reduce its long-term dependence on water purchased from neighboring utilities as North Georgia’s population and water demand continue to grow.
Demorest currently serves more than 7,400 water meters through a distribution system that extends beyond the city limits. The system also provides wholesale water to Tallulah Falls and serves much of northern Habersham County. Demorest now purchases a significant portion of its water from Baldwin and Toccoa, supplementing those supplies with city wells.
“Hope is not a water-supply strategy,” City Manager Mark Musselwhite said in an Aug. 19 press release. “As North Georgia grows, every municipality must meet rising demand.”
Musselwhite described the proposal as a community water-supply project rather than one intended solely for Demorest. He said the city needs infrastructure that does not depend entirely on neighboring communities continuing to have excess water available for sale.
Initial Need of 1.5 Million Gallons Per Day
Demorest estimates its initial operational need at approximately 1.5 million gallons per day. The city plans to design and seek permits for a system with future capacity of up to 5 million gallons per day, allowing production to increase as demand grows.
The city emphasized that it does not intend to withdraw 5 million gallons per day when the plant begins operating. Actual withdrawals would be subject to permits and regulations governing river flow, drought conditions, minimum downstream flows and environmental effects.
The release describes an approximately 10-acre area of relatively flat ground for the treatment plant. It also says additional land or easements would be required for intake and distribution pipes, detention ponds and other supporting infrastructure. The city did not identify the precise location of the proposed facility in the announcement.
Environmental Safeguards Promised
According to the city, the plant would be designed to blend into its surroundings through subdued exterior colors, native landscaping and vegetation intended to screen it from view.
Electric pumps and motors would be housed inside the building, which the city said would limit routine noise outside the facility. An emergency generator would operate during power outages and periodic testing.
The project would also require engineered erosion-control, sediment-control and stormwater plans. The city said disturbed soil would be stabilized and runoff managed to prevent sediment from entering nearby waterways.
Natural buffers around Tallulah Lake would be preserved to the extent practicable and supplemented with native vegetation, according to the release. Demorest also pledged to limit the project’s footprint and retain wildlife habitat where possible.
Heavy equipment and trenching would be present during construction. Once work is complete, the city said equipment would be removed and disturbed areas stabilized and landscaped.
Pipelines Would Carry Raw and Treated Water
The primary pipelines associated with the project would carry untreated source water to the plant and treated drinking water into the distribution system. They would not carry sewage, petroleum or hazardous industrial waste.
The city acknowledged that public water systems can experience occasional line breaks but said properly engineered, pressure-tested and maintained drinking-water lines would not create an ongoing pollution threat to Tallulah Lake. Any repairs would be localized and addressed promptly, according to the release.
Musselwhite said discussions surrounding the project should not be framed as a conflict between Demorest and Tallulah Falls.
“We are neighbors connected by the same roads, economy, and water infrastructure,” he said. “Protecting Tallulah Lake and securing Habersham County’s future water supply are not mutually exclusive.”
Design and Permitting Ahead
The project must still proceed through final design, environmental review and permitting. Demorest said it will coordinate with regulators and other stakeholders and provide updates through official city channels.
