WATER TREATMENT PLANT
DELIVERING CLEAN, RELIABLE WATER FROM LAKE OCONEE TO YOUR TAP, TODAY AND FOR THE FUTURE.
Piedmont Water Company's state-of-the-art water treatment plant, operational since 2022, draws up to two million gallons of surface water daily from Lake Oconee to serve residential and business customers in Georgia. To meet growing demand, plans are underway to expand the plant's capacity to 3 million gallons per day, with an estimated project cost of $2.65 million, aiming to serve over 6,600 customers.
Additionally, a new state-certified laboratory in Greensboro became fully operational in 2024, enhancing water quality monitoring and reinforcing Piedmont Water's commitment to delivering safe, clean drinking water to its communities.
Reliable Water Supply
The treatment plant draws up to 2 million gallons per day from Lake Oconee, ensuring a consistent and dependable source of clean drinking water for homes and businesses.
Future-Ready Expansion
Plans to increase capacity to 3 million gallons per day support population growth and economic development in the region.
Enhanced Water Quality
A new state-certified laboratory in Greensboro improves our testing and quality assurance, reinforcing public health and safety.
SCHEDULE A TOUR TODAY!
Interested in learning more about how your water is treated or seeing our new state-certified microbiology lab in action? Piedmont Water welcomes community members, students, and local organizations to schedule a guided tour of our water treatment plant and laboratory facilities. Tours offer a behind-the-scenes look at our treatment process, safety protocols, and commitment to delivering clean, reliable water.
CLEAN, SAFE WATER YOU CAN TRUST EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
The water treatment process at Piedmont Water Company begins with raw water drawn from Lake Oconee, which is first routed through a chemical building where aluminum chlorohydrate, caustic soda, and potassium permanganate are added to aid in coagulation and oxidation.
From there, the water enters the treatment building, starting with a rapid mix stage where powdered activated carbon may be injected to address taste and odor concerns. It then flows through flocculation basins to encourage particle clumping, followed by sedimentation to remove heavier solids. The clarified water proceeds to filtration, after which sodium hypochlorite and caustic (if needed) are added in the pipe gallery to ensure disinfection and pH balance.
Finally, the treated water is stored in a clear well before being distributed to customers, ensuring a safe, clean, and reliable drinking water supply.
The following flowchart provides an overview of the treatment process we utilize.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
On September 13 and 14, 2022, we held a series of community meetings regarding the water treatment plant. Below is a list of the most frequently asked questions:
Do we still need our water softener?
That is a discussion the homeowner needs to have with their softener company, as it is a personal preference. We are seeing levels of 2-3 grains per gallon coming out of the WTP, which is considered soft water. We suggest by-passing your softener after 3-4 weeks and see if you like the softness levels of the WTP water.
Do we need our filtration or Reverse Osmosis system?
That is a personal preference as those can be set based on a customer’s taste preference. Discuss with your filtration vendor.
Is there fluoride in the water?
No, flouridation is not a state requirement.
Do we test for PFAS?
No, there are currently no standards for PFA’s established under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The EPA is conducting research to understand the current exposure levels of PFAs and to establish safe levels in drinking water. For more information, we recommend going to the EPA’s website.
Will I smell or taste chlorine?
Our goal is to maintain the same level of chlorination in water from the WTP as we had with the wells. If you experience a strong chlorine smell or taste, please contact us at 800-248-7689.
Will this affect the lake levels?
No, the lake has a volume of over 130 trillion gallons of water, with daily inflows averaging 330 million gallons per day. Our withdrawals, even at the 5 MGD level, will have no discernable impact on the lake.
Are we supplying water from the wells and the water treatment plant?
No, we will be shutting down 22 of the wells that serviced the Reynolds water system over the next 12 months, in accordance with EPD guidelines. The remaing 6 will be kept as backup sources, but they will provide water to the system only if they are manually activated. Some of the well buildings will remain to be utilized as monitoring points.
Where is the water being drawn from in the lake?
The raw water intake is in a cove on the Richland Creek branch of Lake Oconee.
Are we prepared for the new development coming to use the water from the water treatment plant?
Yes, the plant capacity was derived from a master plan of the surrounding area, assuming an aggressive level of development.
Can you soften water too much?
Water that is too soft can be corrosive because there is no mineral content to act as a buffer. It will start to feel slimy to the touch.
Do we have a secondary power source in case of a natural disaster?
Yes, there is an emergency backup generator at the plant.
Do we plan to come across the bridge into Putnam County?
Expanding the plant service area to Putnam County is in our 3-5 year long term planning. The pace of development in the current service area could change that timing, however.
Will the spots on dishes, windows and cars go away?
Yes, softer water generally does not leave spots.
Will the sulfur smell go away?
Yes, the sulfur smell comes from the natural minerals in ground water that gets heated up in the water heater. You may need to fully flush your water heater to remove any sediment buildup to completly eliminate sulphur like odors.
Will my appliances last longer?
Soft water is generally easier on appliances and fixtures.
Do we dump our sewer effluent into the lake?
No, as a private company, the state does not allow us to stream discharge effluent from our sewer treatment plants, unlike municipally owned sewer plants.