Our mission is to provide the Authority’s customers with reliable, safe drinking water and to provide sewer services in an environmentally responsible and fiscally sound manner while focusing on cost efficiency and value-oriented service. Providing the best possible services will always be the number one priority for the Newton County Water & Sewerage Authority.
Message from the Executive Director
Introduction
I am excited to present the annual operating budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 (the “FYE 2025 Budget”). This budget serves as both a financial plan and a strategic tool to help us achieve NCWSA’s key initiatives, including water quality, financial viability, water resource sustainability, reliability, and workforce development. Your active participation and support are crucial in this journey.
The FYE 2025 Budget is a testament to our unwavering commitment to the ratepayers we serve. It was meticulously developed with the understanding that our customers deserve the highest-quality water and wastewater services, delivered professionally, courteously, and efficiently. We are steadfast in our dedication to continually improving and enhancing our services for all our customers, and this budget sets us on the right path to achieving these goals.
Background
Every year, we face significant challenges. The upcoming year will be no different, with higher-than-average inflation and mortgage rates replacing the recent global pandemic. While inflation has eased slightly in the first half of 2024, mortgage rates remain higher, placing a drag on single-family housing starts. Political and social unrest also contribute to an unstable economy. Despite these challenges, great opportunities will reveal themselves if we persevere and stay the course. Regardless of ongoing events, our community is always at the forefront of our efforts, as the Authority carefully and diligently considers its budget development with an eye towards consistent above-average service and opportunities to assist in growing our local economy.
Strategic Plan priorities:
In the near term, the FYE 2025 Budget will focus on four (4) key Strategic Plan priorities:
It is also essential to maintain financial stability by establishing a budget based on prudent projections of water demand, wastewater treatment, housing, and economic growth, with sound financial policy to maintain debt service coverage.
Never underestimate the positive influence children can have to encourage their families to be better water stewards. Kids can check out our Kids Center helpful tips and fun activities.
Covington Ford is one of Georgia’s oldest family-owned Ford dealerships, and in 2011 they moved into a new LEED-gold certified building. The building uses water-smart fixtures and pollution-reducing storm water management.
The East Village Residential Complex at Oxford College is LEED-gold certified. It has an underground storage tank for irrigation and drip irrigation with rain sensors.
The General Mills plant in Covington installed a wastewater treatment system that reuses half the plant’s process wastewater for other purposes, saving 5.3 million gallons of water per month.
The “Site 1 MSW” area of Newton County’s landfill closed in 1991. Though no environmental improvements were required, the site is within a quarter mile of the Yellow River, so Newton County brought the site up to current standards. This includes removing the waste and treating the remaining soil.
Oxford’s City Hall opened in 2010. This redevelopment implemented several new stormwater mitigation features. Porous pavement in the parking areas reduces runoff. Any remaining stormwater is captured by a rain garden, which slowly filters the water through layers of stone and soil. An underground vault collects the remaining stormwater and stores it for future irrigation.
The Porter Memorial Library, opened in 2010, is Newton County Government’s first LEED certified building. It was designed with several water-smart features, including bio-swales for stormwater treatment and an underground collection tank for irrigation.
The park includes several stormwater management techniques such as riparian buffers, a design to fit the terrain, reduced grading, a reduced parking footprint, and great efforts to preserve mature trees. Runoff is directed to pervious areas such as gravel parking lots.
A new bio-retentive parking lot was constructed behind the Covington City Hall. The parking lot prevents storm water from entering Dried Indian Creek. Water quality measurement is continuously measured, and city cars are washed on a special new pad.
