About US

District Background

The Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District (Metro Water District) was created by the Georgia General Assembly in 2001 to establish policy, create plans and promote intergovernmental coordination of all water issues in the District from a regional perspective. The Metro Water District includes 15 counties and over 90 cities within the metro Atlanta region.

The primary purpose of the Metro Water District is to develop regional and watershed-specific plans for stormwater management, wastewater treatment and water supply and conservation.  Three comprehensive water plans, originally adopted in 2003, were updated in 2009:

1. District-wide Watershed Management Plan
2. Long-term Wastewater Management Plan
3. Water Supply and Water Conservation Management Plan

These plans will protect water quality and public water supplies in and downstream of the region, protect recreational values of the waters in and downstream of the region, and minimize potential adverse impacts of development on waters in and downstream of the region.

Metro Water District Organization

• Legal requirements are outlined in the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District Act. (PDF)
• Operating procedures are further defined in the By-laws. (PDF)
• Funding comes from state appropriations and per capita local government dues. The Metro Water District operates on a calendar year budget.
• An elected/appointed Governing Board sets policy and the direction.
• Plans and policies are guided by the Board, the Executive and Finance Committees, the Technical Coordinating Committees and the Basin Advisory Councils.
• Staffing is provided by the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) Environmental Planning Division.
• Local governments and utilities are responsible for implementing the plans at the local level. Compliance with the plans is enforced through the Georgia Environmental Protection Division's permitting process.