Fayette County, Georgia – February 14, 2025 – Fayette County was awarded a critical grant by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to upgrade the emergency has been power system at the Crosstown Water Treatment Plant. This project ensures resiliency of continuous and reliable drinking water service to approximately 120,00 customers in Tyrone, Peachtree City, Woolsey, Brooks, parts of Fayetteville, and unincorporated areas of the county.
To make application for this grant, a Hazard Mitigation Plan, approved by all the cities and towns in the county, must list mitigation projects of which this generator project was one. Because the Fayette County Fire and EMS Department worked diligently with all the municipalities, the plan met GEMA’s highest standard and reduced the Water System’s match from 10 percent to six percent. Funding for the project is distributed as follows and totals $4,156,907.26
- FEMA Share: $3,741,216.53
- State Share: $166,276.29
- Local Share: $249,414.44
The Crosstown Water Treatment Plant operates around the clock and produces approximately 9 million gallons of water per day. To maintain this level of service, the plant requires a dependable source of emergency power to protect against potential disruptions caused by weather or technical failures.
New natural-gas-powered generators will strengthen the plant’s ability to continue delivering safe drinking water during power outages, helping safeguard public health and minimize the risk of service interruptions.
Steven Rapson, County Manager said the new award will help the county.
“FEMA plays a critical role in working to prepare for and responding to natural disasters. The consequences of losing a water system are immediate and severe. These emergency generators will ensure continuous operation, maintain water quality, and protect public health and safety during outages. They also keep vital security systems running, safeguarding against potential threats to the water supply,” Rapson said.
“The Water System staff is ecstatic to have received this grant after patiently waiting four years. We look forward to getting the generators ordered and installed. We couldn’t have received this grant without the help of the County’s EMA Director, Brian Davis,” said Vanessa Tigert, Water System Director.
“The Fayette County Board of Commissioners has been incredibly supportive of the efforts of staff to pursue funding for initiatives that mitigate future threats to life and property. The Fayette County Emergency Management Agency has been tasked with making the County more resilient, and this grant is an important step toward that objective,” said Assistant Chief Brian Davis, Community Affairs and EMA Director.
“The addition of these generators will improve Fayette County’s ability to safeguard the community and strengthen the infrastructure of our water system, thereby ensuring the County is equipped to withstand future disasters. The overall preparedness of the County will soon be significantly enhanced by this award which is a direct result of the work and determination of Vanessa Tigert and her staff at the Fayette County Water System,” Davis said.
The Water System is committed to continuously improve its infrastructure and public services. The emergency power upgrade represents a significant step toward long-term resiliency and reliability.
Fayette County Water System’s mission is to provide clean, safe, and high-quality drinking water. We provide exceptional customer service to over 120,000 residents while actively preserving our vital water resources for future generations.
