The mayor's office on Thursday afternoon released the long-promised water-infrastructure plan that will, if approved by the council in July, become the largest single capital project in the city's history.

What the plan funds

$1.1 billion for replacement of aging cast-iron distribution mains, concentrated on the west and southwest quadrants of the city where main breaks over the last five years have been most frequent. $640 million for combined-sewer-overflow remediation, a decades-long consent-decree obligation the city has repeatedly extended. $310 million for a second raw-water intake on the Chattahoochee that would provide operational redundancy in the event of a repeat of the 2007 drought conditions. The remainder for treatment-plant upgrades, metering, and lead-service-line replacement.

How it gets paid for

Roughly 60% comes from water and sewer rate increases phased in over three years, at approximately $9 per month for the median residential customer at full phase-in. The remainder is a mix of federal SRF loans, a proposed general-obligation bond that would need voter approval on the November ballot, and a smaller EPA grant component.

The politics

The plan has, so far, drawn broad council support in principle. The rate increase is what will decide whether the July vote goes cleanly. Two council members representing the neighborhoods that would bear the highest per-household increase have signaled they will push for a low-income affordability program to be added before the vote.

About the author

Marcus Thorne

Executive Editor for News. Runs the daily newsroom and the Pulse desk.