Preventive maintenance and longterm infrastructure planning remain central to the Eatonton-Putnam Water and Sewer Authority’s (EPWSA) strategy for managing the local water and sewer system, project manager Brice Doolittle told the Putnam County Board of Commissioners on March 6, during a scheduled meeting.
Doolittle said the authority has focused on identifying and addressing potential problems before equipment failures occur — a strategy he said saves money and helps avoid service disruptions.
“Since March of 2020, the EPWSA staff have completed 9,307 work orders, and 8,442 of those have been preventative in nature, and 865 are corrective,” Doolittle said. “So, 91% of the work orders that are completed are to prevent asset failures.”
He noted that avoiding equipment failures can lead to significant savings. A submersible pump at a sewer lift station, for example, costs about $18,000.
The authority also completed a sewer project recently to resolve longstanding plumbing problems at the Putnam County Courthouse. The original sewer line ran about 14 feet underground beneath South Jefferson Avenue and the Georgia DOT roadway. Still, EPWSA installed a new sewer lift station that now pumps wastewater to Sumter Street, Doolittle said.
“We worked with the county to come up with a long-term solution to that problem,” he added.
Doolittle also reported that a $6.2 million infrastructure initiative, funded in part by federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars, was completed. The project focused on improving system reliability and strengthening water service to critical facilities.
“The biggest thing that we wanted to do is provide system loops to critical infrastructure within the county, specifically the hospital and the school system,” he said.
Previously, the hospital and nearby middle school were served by “dead-end” water lines, Doolittle explained, meaning a break could cut off service entirely. New looped lines now allow water to be supplied from multiple directions if a section of pipe fails.
Similar improvements were made near the primary school on Old Glenwood Springs Road, where an older water line ran through wooded areas, making repairs difficult, “so we took this opportunity to provide a system loop to the primary school,” Doolittle added.
EPWSA also replaced aging and undersized water mains in several Eatonton locations, including Alice Walker Drive, West Sumter Street, West Walnut Street, Jackson Street, New Street, and North Jefferson Street. Crews replaced older service connections that included galvanized pipes and lead components.
Doolittle said the improvements also strengthen fire protection by increasing available water flow to hydrants.
“When I first took over here, there were 54 fully non-functional fire hydrants,” Doolittle said.
“Now, as of 2026, there are 20 non-functional fire hydrants,” but 10 of them are currently being repaired, he added.
Looking ahead, Doolittle said the authority plans to pursue a revenue bond to support future system expansion and upgrades. Over the next decade, he said the authority expects to invest about $10 million in the water system and approximately $16 million in sewer infrastructure within Eatonton.
District 2 Commissioner Richard Garrett asked Doolittle about water usage trends throughout the county, noting population growth might suggest higher demand.
Doolittle answered that many newer connections are not for full-time residents, which has kept usage relatively stable so far; however, “we anticipate that to change,” he said, pointing to industrial growth and other future customers.
Commissioner Steve Hersey of District 3 asked about the funding structure for ARPA projects.
“Of the $6.2 million, $3.1 million was grant funds,” Doolittle said. “EPWSA invested about $2.2 million, the county contributed $600,000, and the city contributed $400,000.”
Garrett said the investments appear to have helped the system catch up on deferred maintenance.
“That’s the drive,” Doolittle said. “Every community in the United States is dealing with the same issues. As long as you turn on the tap and you have good quality drinking water, you don’t think about it until it’s a problem.”