Capital improvement funds are nearly gone after two years of replacing aging equipment and updating sewage treatment facilities in Peachtree City, says Larry Turner, manager for the Water and Sewer Authority.

Therefore, WASA needs a new source of funding for improvements and expansions to meet "build-out," he said. Whether that source would be another bond issue or low-interest loan from state agencies, he said, has not been decided. An initial report on the system's needs was made at the February 1 WASA meeting.

"When we decide on the final options," he said, "we'll have to analyze them and look for the best method of financing what we need to get done." He said the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority makes low-interest loans available to cities for these types of improvements.

Turner said $6 million was included in the last bond issue for capital improvements, and about $5 million has been "encumbered," by purchases or by letting contracts for improvements. These included general improvements at all three wastewater treatment plants (Flat Creek, Line Creek and Rockaway) such as replacing aging parts and hydraulic changes, about $1.5 million; construction of three new pump stations (at Wynnmeade, on Dividend Drive and behind the new FAA building on Ga. Highway 74 south) and improvements to the City Hall pump station, plus associated force mains, about $2.8 million; new SCADA data system for monitoring problems, about $250,000; vehicles, a generator, a vac-truck and other equipment, about $300,000.

Turner said that WASA will be looking at water and sewer rates and burdens on customers when decisions are made about financing new improvements.