Event recognizes legacy of regional collaboration on water planning
(ATLANTA – August 11, 2026) — Water professionals, utility leaders, elected officials, and regional partners gathered Aug. 11 for a breakfast program at the Chattahoochee Nature Center to celebrate the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District’s (District) 25th Anniversary and the regional collaboration that has helped transform metro Atlanta’s water planning and management.
Established by the Georgia General Assembly in 2001 and part of the Atlanta Regional Commission, the District brings together 15 counties and 97 cities to implement a comprehensive regional approach to water supply, wastewater, watershed management, and conservation. It remains the only U.S. metro region where 100+ local governments implement a required and enforced water management program.
Georgia House Natural Resources and Environment Committee Chair Lynn Smith reflected on the District’s founding and its lasting impact. “The creation of the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District was a bold step forward, uniting local governments to protect one of our most valuable resources and ensure a strong water future for generations to come,” Smith said.
Over the past 25 years, the District has updated its regional Water Resources Management Plan every five years, expanded conservation and education initiatives, and provided technical resources that help communities make informed investments in water infrastructure. These efforts have produced measurable results. Notably, per capita water use across the region has declined by 30 percent since 2001, while the region withdraws about the same amount of water today as it did two decades ago, despite significant population growth.
Newly appointed District Board Chair and Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson emphasized the importance of regional planning for the future. “As our region continues to grow, thoughtful planning has never been more important. The District helps communities prepare for tomorrow’s challenges while supporting the reliable water infrastructure, strong economy, and high quality of life that makes this part of Georgia a great place to live and work,” Hendrickson said.
The anniversary celebration also recognized the District’s important role in preparing for future needs. Earlier this year, the District released its Resilient Water Utilities Report to help utilities strengthen long-term resilience by addressing aging infrastructure, climate variability, and evolving risks.
“The past 25 years have shown what can be achieved when communities come together around a shared vision for water,” said Danny Johnson, District Director. “As utilities navigate new challenges and growing demands, the District will build on this legacy with our partners to plan, prepare, and support a strong water future.”
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The Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District is dedicated to developing comprehensive regional and watershed-specific water resources plans to be implemented by local governments in the 15-county metro Atlanta region, which includes Bartow, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Paulding, and Rockdale counties. These plans conserve public water supplies, protect water quality and recreational value of the waters and minimize potential adverse impacts of development on waters in and downstream of the region. Learn more at www.northgeorgiawater.org.