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1. What services does the Public Utilities Department offer to Athens-Clarke County residents?

Water & Sewer
The Athens-Clarke County Public Utilities Department provides water and/or sewer services to more than 40,000 customer accounts, including 24/7/365 emergency on-call services to support our water and sewer systems.
The Public Utilities Department’s Engineering Division provides guidance and review for new construction projects, as well as assistance in establishing new water and sewer development.

Trash Service
The Athens-Clarke County Solid Waste Department collects refuse in the downtown district and Urban Service District, which encompasses the old Athens city limits. Anything beyond these areas is serviced by an outside company.  
ACC Solid Waste Residential Garbage and Recycling Service is set up at the Water Business Office when you sign up for your water.  Charges for trash service are included on the water bill.
Commercial curbside services are dependent on where your business is located. Call 706-613-3501, ext. 302 to find out if your business can receive commercial curbside services.
For questions regarding ACC Solid Waste trash and/or recycling service, including trash pick-up schedule, leaf & limb pick-up, or delivery of bins, call their main office at 706-613-3501, Press 5. Otherwise, contact your private collector directly.

Power & Gas
Athens-Clarke County Government does not provide power or gas services for customers.  GA Power or Walton EMC  are two companies providing power for customers in Athens, GA area.  

Stormwater Utility
The Stormwater Utility is managed by Athens-Clarke County Transportation & Public Works Department. The stormwater utility fee is based on the amount of impervious surface on each property, which is calculated using aerial images of the county. The utility fee pays for stormwater infrastructure maintenance within the public right-of-way, as well as a comprehensive Stormwater Management Program.   For more information about Stormwater, visit the Athens-Clarke County Stormwater Division.

2. What is Athens-Clarke County doing to control lead in our drinking water?

Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing.  Athens-Clarke County has no lead service lines in our transmission or distribution system.   

The ACC Public Utilities Department (PUD) cannot control the variety of plumbing materials used in constructing homes, including lead pipes, solder, fixtures, and fittings.  Lead can enter (leach) into the water through corrosion caused by contact with the home’s plumbing. 

The PUD is committed to providing high-quality drinking water to our customers.  In 1991, Athens-Clarke County began using an Ortho-Phosphate blend as a means of corrosion control to significantly reduce the possibility of lead leaching into tap water, even in the oldest of homes. 

The PUD collects quarterly metal corrosion coupons, which are pre-weighed and measured metal strips, mounted at selected locations within our distribution system to gauge the corrosion control chemical dosage’s effectiveness.  The metal coupons are collected and sent to an independent lab that measures the amount of corrosion to the coupons and determines our dosage/treatment effectiveness. 

Maintaining the pH level in our distribution system is another step the PUD takes to protect your drinking water.  We aim for a pH between 7.5 and 7.75 to further minimize the possibility of our water being corrosive. The pH is a measure of acidity, and the lower the number, the more acidic and corrosive the water. A pH of 7.0 is considered neutral. We have never exceeded EPD Action Levels during decades of sampling.

For more information, please review our annual Water Quality Report/Consumer Confidence Report.

3. How often am I billed for water and sewer services?

Residential and commercial accounts are read approximately every 30 days using Advanced Metering Infrastructure. Customers receive a monthly bill for water and/or sewer usage.  Visit our Water Business Office to learn more about Public Utilities’ billing.

4. How can I pay my water/sewer bill?

The ACC Public Utilities Department offers customers several options to make payments for water and sewer services.

1. Pay online with a credit or debit card with no fees.  Through the online system, customers can also set up auto-pay with a credit/debit card or set up automatic bank withdrawals.  
2. Call the Water Business Office to pay with a credit card over the phone:  706-613-3500.
3. Mail a check or money order made out to ACC WBO and mail to The Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County, Public Utilities Water Business Office, PO Box 16869, Atlanta, GA 30321-0869.
4. Bank draft by completing and returning the Bank Draft Application.
5. In-person at 124 E. Hancock Ave, Athens, GA  30601. We accept cash, credit/debit card, or check or money order made out to ACC WBO.  Please check for updates to our Water Business Office hours.  Dropboxes are available in the front and back of the building for after hours payments made with check or money order.    

5. What is a stormwater utility fee?

The Stormwater Utility is managed by Athens-Clarke County Transportation & Public Works Department. The stormwater utility fee is based on the amount of impervious surface on each property, which is calculated using aerial images of the county. The utility fee pays for stormwater infrastructure maintenance within the public right-of-way, as well as a comprehensive Stormwater Management Program.   

For more information about Stormwater, visit the Athens-Clarke County Stormwater Division.
Customers may pay the Stormwater Utility Fee online using the ACC Transportation & Public Work’s billing system.

Athens-Clarke County Stormwater Division

6. When can I water outside?

In 2010, Governor Perdue signed The Georgia Water Stewardship Act (GWSA) into law.  Athens-Clarke County’s non-drought Outdoor Watering Schedule is consistent with the guidelines required by the GWSA.  

The non-drought Outdoor Watering Schedule is in place at all times unless the GA Environmental Protection Division requires additional restrictions as in times of drought.  Notification of outdoor watering changes will be posted on the Public Utilities Department website, social media, in News Flash alerts, and through other communication outlets.

General Rule of Thumb for Daily Watering
Using an automated watering system or lawn sprinkler for planting, growing, managing, or maintaining ground cover, trees, or shrubs is allowed between 4:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. 
For exceptions, visit our Outdoor Watering Schedule webpage or click for a pdf version.

Official Watering Restrictions