Atlanta, Ga. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff’s legislation to help upgrade Atlanta’s water infrastructure is now law.
Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock’s City of Atlanta Water Infrastructure Enhancement Act was signed into law earlier this month as part of the Water Resources Development Act reauthorization to upgrade water infrastructure for families and businesses across Atlanta.
Congresswoman Nikema Williams introduced the companion bill in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The law expands an existing authorization for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to carry out water infrastructure projects in the city, including drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure projects, which would improve quality of life and strengthen resilience.
With the expanded authorization, Congress can now appropriate more funding for water infrastructure projects across the city.
“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,” Sen. Ossoff said. “That’s why after disruptions in Atlanta, we passed this legislation into law to help upgrade Atlanta’s water infrastructure.”
“Georgians across the state rely on safe, clean, and reliable water for drinking, maintaining homes and businesses, and more. But this is the type of work that goes largely unrecognized until disaster strikes, highlighting why it is so important to secure investments today that will protect Georgia’s water infrastructure tomorrow,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “This bipartisan legislation will help do just that, and I will continue championing federal investments that bolster Georgia’s economy and ecology.”
“This legislation is a perfect example of the importance of investing in cities’ critical infrastructure. A clean, safe and reliable water system is a cornerstone of healthy communities, and I thank Senator Ossoff, Senator Warnock and Congresswoman Williams for always championing this city,” said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens.
Sen. Ossoff continues working to strengthen Georgia’s water infrastructure.
In June, Sens. Ossoff and Warnock and Congresswoman Williams delivered $993,500 through the bipartisan infrastructure law for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to review Atlanta’s aging water infrastructure following the recent series of water main breaks that left hundreds of thousands of families and businesses without water.
In May, Sen. Ossoff delivered Federal funding to help the City of College Park install a new water storage tank and booster system, which will ensure residents have access to reliable, clean drinking water, and accommodate economic growth in the city, and he delivered new resources to help replace Rockdale County’s 50-year-old water pump station.
In 2022, Sen. Ossoff and Congresswoman Lucy McBath (GA-06) passed into law their Chattahoochee River Act, a first-of-its-kind law that authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to work on water projects up and down the Chattahoochee River throughout the state of Georgia.
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