The City of Summerville is receiving a major boost for its public water system after being awarded a $4.5 million grant from the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority to help address emerging contaminants in drinking water.

The funding will be used to install PFAS remediation technology and upgrade the city’s drinking water plant, according to project details released with the award announcement. PFAS, commonly known as “forever chemicals,” have become a major focus for water systems across Georgia and the nation because they can remain in the environment for long periods of time and may pose health concerns if left untreated.

Summerville’s award is part of a larger statewide package totaling $32.23 million in grant funding for 10 communities. The money is being made available through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act to help local governments improve water and wastewater systems and reduce exposure to PFAS and other emerging contaminants.

Officials say the investment in Summerville’s water system will help strengthen local infrastructure while also working to provide cleaner, safer drinking water for residents. In addition to addressing contamination concerns, the planned upgrades are expected to improve the long-term reliability and performance of the city’s treatment system.

Summerville was one of six communities to receive funding through the Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities Program, which provided $18.5 million in grant funding statewide. Other Georgia communities receiving awards include Ringgold, Augusta-Richmond County, White, Tennille, Talbot County, Chatsworth, Dalton, Gray, and Harris County.

The grant also places Summerville among several northwest Georgia communities receiving support for water quality improvements, underscoring the growing regional and statewide push to modernize drinking water systems and confront emerging environmental challenges head-on.