SUMMERVILLE– A Summerville PFAS treatment project has reached a new environmental review stage, opening a public comment period on proposed Raccoon Creek Water Treatment Plant improvements.
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division issued its notice Oct. 14. Plans call for four granular activated carbon systems to remove PFAS from drinking water and certain plant discharges.
Those discharges include filter backwash and sedimentation basin water before release into the creek. However, the notice does not provide a project cost or construction schedule.
What the Review Means
EPD also found the upgrades eligible for categorical exclusion from further substantive review under Georgia’s State Environmental Review Process.
The project meets criteria for upgrades to existing treatment plants without a significant capacity change. However, this determination does not constitute final approval to begin construction.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers identified possible streams or wetlands requiring coordination and any necessary authorizations. EPD will also evaluate comments before deciding whether to approve project planning documents.
Funding Announcements Provide Background
Separately, the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority announced a $4.5 million grant for Summerville in March. The award also supports installation of PFAS remediation technology and upgrades to the city’s drinking water plant.
The funding comes through the Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities program. In addition, GEFA announced a $3.5 million grant for Summerville in August 2024 for pilot testing and drinking water plant upgrades.
Those announcements establish a funding history for the city’s PFAS work. However, the October notice does not reconcile the grants with a current construction estimate or complete financing plan.
It also does not announce any customer rate change.
What Customers Could Expect
The proposed equipment targets per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a group of manufactured chemicals commonly called PFAS.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, granular activated carbon captures contaminants on its porous surfaces as water passes through.
Its effectiveness depends on the carbon, water conditions, treatment design, and specific PFAS present. Therefore, a general description of the technology does not establish a guaranteed removal rate for Summerville’s proposed systems.
In a previous city statement, Summerville described using carbon in existing filter beds after contamination concerns emerged in 2020. The city later approved engineering recommendations for a more permanent treatment approach at a September 2024 council meeting.
That approach called for larger pressurized vessels holding more carbon. The city also stated a goal of recovering capital and increased operating costs through litigation, rather than passing those costs to residents.
That earlier statement describes the city’s objective; it does not establish the final cost or rate impact of the current proposal.
How to Submit Comments
EPD invites written comments within 30 days of the Oct. 14 publication date. Send comments to Tamika Samaroo, Environmental Engineer, Drinking Water Program, Georgia Environmental Protection Division, at the following address:
2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SE, Suite 1470A East Tower, Atlanta, GA 30334-9000.
The notice identifies the project as Raccoon Creek Water Treatment Plant Improvements, GEFA Project No. ECSDC2023006.
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