Georgia Senate Press Office

ATLANTA (May 28, 2026) — Today, Senate President Pro Tempore Larry Walker III (R–Perry) praised the announcement that the City of Rhine will receive $1.1 million in Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) conservation loan funding through the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) to improve the city’s water infrastructure system. This project qualifies for significant financial assistance through GEFA’s affordability criteria and conservation incentives, making the city eligible for principal forgiveness of up to $902,000.

The DWSRF conservation loan program provides low-interest financing to local governments and water authorities for projects that improve water quality, protect source waters and promote long-term conservation efforts. This funding will support rehabilitation of Rhine’s existing 100,000-gallon elevated water storage tank, replacement of water meters throughout the city and installation of new insertion valves to improve system reliability and allow future repairs without requiring a full system shutdown.

“For small rural communities like Rhine, reliable infrastructure is essential to protecting public health and preserving quality of life,” said Sen. Walker. “I want to thank Governor Kemp and GEFA Executive Director Trey Bennett for recognizing the importance of investing in rural Georgia and making sure communities like Rhine have the resources needed to modernize their critical infrastructure systems. This investment will strengthen Rhine’s aging water infrastructure and help ease the financial burden on local taxpayers.”

The funding announcement was included in a broader statewide infrastructure package administered by GEFA, which recently awarded more than $74 million in infrastructure financing to communities across Georgia.

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Sen. Larry Walker III serves as President Pro Tempore of the Georgia Senate. He represents the 20^th Senate District, which includes Bleckley, Dodge, Dooly, Laurens, Pulaski, Treutlen and Wilcox counties, as well as a portion of Houston County.  He may be reached by phone at (404) 656-0095 or by email at Larry.Walker@senate.ga.gov.For all media inquiries, please reach out to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.