Welcome to the Cobb County Water System Media Center.
For more information regarding the Cobb County Water System in the news please contact our Communication and Public Education Division at (770) 419- 6295 or email us at
water communications@cobbcounty.org
New Outdoor Water Use Restrictions in effect for Cobb County
Cobb County Becomes a WaterFirst Community
Chattahoochee Tunnel Named " 2005 Outstanding Civil Engineering Project"
New Outdoor Water Restrictions in Effect
In compliance with The State's amended Drought Response Level 4, beginning March 1, 2008, citizens will be able to hand water established landscapes for 25 minutes on the odd/even schedule from 4 AM - 9 AM. Hand watering is defined as one person, with one hose with an automatic shutoff nozzle.
• Even and Unnumbered addresses may water Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays
• Odd addresses may water Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays
In compliance with Cobb County’s Drought Response Plan adopted by the Cobb County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, February 26, 2008, beginning April 1, 2008, citizens who complete the State of Georgia's online water conservation class at www.urbanagcouncil.com will be able to water newly installed landscape for 10 weeks on the odd/even schedule from 4 AM - 9 AM.
For more information on Cobb County's Drought Response Plan, and to download the landscape exemption form please visit the Cobb County Water Efficiency page of this website.
The Cobb County Water System will strictly enforce these restrictions. Warnings are issued for a first offense. Second, and each subsequent time results in escalating fines for each offense up to $500, water service disconnection, as well as prosecution.
For more information on drought and how to cope with it, read our Drought Education brochure.
For more information, call (770) 423-1000
Cobb County Becomes a WaterFirst Community
On July 21st, the Department of Community Affairs awarded Cobb County with the "WaterFirst" distinction of excellence. State government recently honored Cobb for its water stewardship, designating the county one of only six WaterFirst communities in Georgia.
The new title brings with it reduced interest rates for water and sewer project loans as well as improved opportunities for Community Development Block Grants and Regional Assistance Program Grants.
During the July awards presentation, Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Mike Beatty said Cobb County is proactive in its pursuit of environmental excellence. “It takes a lot of work to reach this level - to be a model for the entire state,” he said.
Cobb County Water System Director Bob Brice cited the work of county and Cobb-Marietta Water Authority employees as the reason for the honors. He also pointed to the importance of protecting the environment. “It’s just not about getting awards,” Brice said. “It’s about doing what is right and recognitions happen … Generations from now, they’ll say ‘They did the right thing,’ and that’s the bottom line.”
The Department of Community Affairs uses eight criteria to select a WaterFirst Community: watershed assessment, stormwater master planning, water supply planning, water supply protection, water conservation, wastewater planning, wastewater treatment systems management and water reclamation and reuse. The review included an on-site visit by a Department of Community Affairs assessment team in May.
A. Roy Fowler III, general manager of the Cobb-Marietta Water Authority, said during the July ceremony that they appreciated the new honor. “The Water Authority is proud, thrilled, and we’re proud of the company we keep,” Fowler said.
During the ceremony, Cobb County Board of Commissioners Chairman Sam Olens praised the accomplishment of both entities and noted that the county takes environmental stewardship seriously.
“The real honor today goes to the employees of the Water System and the employees of the Water Authority,” Olens said.
The Cobb County Water System is one of only three water systems in the nation with “Triple A” ratings from each of the top three bond rating companies. This year marks the eighth in a row that the bond rating companies renewed similar “Triple A” ratings for Cobb County Government.
Cobb County now joins the five other WaterFirst communities in Georgia: Columbus Waterworks/Columbus Consolidated Government, the City of Hartwell, Clayton County/ Clayton County Water Authority, Gwinnett County and the City of Savannah.
The Department of Community Affairs will review Cobb County’s status every two years to obtain a WaterFirst re-certification.
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Chattahoochee Tunnel named "Outstanding Civil Engineering Project of the Year"
SEPTEMBER 12, 2005 – The 9.5-mile-long Chattahoochee Tunnel in Cobb County, Georgia, was named the Outstanding Civil Engineering Project of the Year at the 2005 Georgia Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (GA-ASCE) Annual Awards Banquet, held September 9 at Atlanta Marriott Century Center.
The Chattahoochee Tunnel project was a joint endeavor of Jordan, Jones & Goulding (JJG), an Atlanta-based consulting engineering firm responsible for the design and construction of the tunnel; project contractor Gilbert/Healy JV; construction management services of Parsons/Jacobs; and the Cobb County Water System (CCWS) as the owner.
As a good environmental steward, CCWS began proactively addressing the explosive growth occurring in East Cobb County long before the launch of this tunneling project in mid-2000. The goal was to provide sufficient build-out capacity to the existing network of some 500 miles of sewers in East Cobb by 2040. Options evaluated included conventional open-cutting, a deep tunnel and a combination of both methods. The deep rock tunnel, with the least amount of environmental and community impacts, was ultimately selected.
As the future sewer system of Cobb County, the Chattahoochee Tunnel stretches from near Lower Roswell Road in East Cobb to the Chattahoochee River. Taking approximately four years to construct, the tunnel measures 18 feet in diameter and over 200 feet deep. Its cost is $113.6 million.
This remarkable tunnel serves not only as a conveyance system, but one with flow equalization capability, shaving peak flows during wet weather events and minimizing the need for constructing costly treatment facilities with higher capacities. It also features sophisticated vortex type intake structures to divert flows into the deep tunnel. The construction documents embrace unique risk management tools, and CCWS controlled cutting-edge secondary grouting methods to minimize groundwater inflows into the tunnel.
The project was selected by GA-ASCE based on the following criteria: contributions to the well-being of people and communities; resourcefulness in planning and solving design challenges; pioneering in use of materials and methods; innovations in construction; impact on the physical environment; beneficial and adverse effects of the project, including aesthetic value; unique approaches and partnerships; risk management; fiscal responsibility; and consideration of sustainability or maintenance. This award recognizes the efforts of all involved to perceive future needs and marks a job well done.
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To contact the Cobb County Water System regarding media inquiries or requests please contact Water Communications.