The City of Savannah provides drinking water from the Savannah River to much of our area. For several years the City has been working with water utilities in Georgia and South Carolina to ensure good water quality is maintained. There is an opportunity to share costs to purchase a 974-acre tract on the Savannah River. The total cost is $3.4M. Savannah’s portion is $105,000. The property includes 3.5 miles of river frontage. Protecting the land and its forest protects the quality of our drinking water. The Memorandum of Agreement is with the Lowcountry Land Trust to protect the property in perpetuity. The Trust is a land conservation organization that has worked since 1986 to protect more than 142,000 acres in 17 coastal counties. Savannah’s participation provides important benefits to our community:

1. Protecting land and the river keeps water treatment costs low;

2. Savannah's investments are always matched by water utilities and other partners with environmental protection goals; and

3. Participation could gain credits for Savannah's Water Reclamation (wastewater) operation on pending state nitrogen and phosphorus reduction requirements.

Approval