The planning, design and construction of water and wastewater utility systems for residential, commercial and industrial developments must be thoroughly analyzed, reviewed and inspected by our Engineering & Development Department to verify their accordance with established development procedures, specifications, requirements, local ordinances, Bartow County Growth Management Plan and all other applicable guidelines prior to final approval and connection with the Bartow County Water & Sewer System. A Developer (or authorized representative thereof) must submit a formal written request to the Bartow County Water Department regarding water and/or sewer service availability at or near their proposed development. A $105.00 Flow Test Fee shall be submitted upon ordering a water system flow test that will be conducted upon the water service main closest to the proposed development for the purposes of calculating current water system pressure and flow rates to officially determine water service availability status. Based upon the results of the water system flow test, the Developer’s Engineer must calculate the availability of water required to meet peak domestic service demands and fire protection for the proposed development. The water utility system shall be designed to maintain a minimum pressure of 30 p.s.i. (pounds per square inch) at each water service connection and all associated distribution points under peak domestic demand and fire flow. The Developer’s Engineer must provide a comprehensive report based upon these results detailing the construction purpose, average daily water consumption and peak demands calculated to service the proposed development, certifying that connection of said development to the Bartow County Water System shall not produce unacceptable fire flow levels. Fire flows for commercial and industrial developments shall be no less than 1,000 g.p.m.; multi-family residential no less than 750 g.p.m.; single-family residential no less than 500 g.p.m.. (Note: For low-density developments, lower fire flows may be acceptable based upon the risk to adjoining properties as determined by the acting Bartow County Fire Chief.) The developer must provide our department three (3) complete sets of construction plans for the proposed development detailing the geographic location, development layout and conceptual design of proposed water and/or sewer utility services with separate plans for both water and sewer. A $160.00 Plan Review Fee shall be submitted for each set of plans or each new version of plans reviewed including preliminary plans, construction plans and as-builts (final plans). Development plans submitted to Bartow County for approval must also be accompanied by a letter signed by a Georgia Registered Engineer confirming that there is not a landfill on the site of the proposed development:

Pursuant to Act 599, “The Erosion and Sedimentation Act”: “Therefore, effective immediately, all utility plans submitted to the Division for environmental approval, as required by State regulations, must include defined contract requirements for erosion and sedimentation control. Requirements for erosion and sedimentation control should be defined such that costs may be included in the bid proposal. Please note, however, that any required erosion and sediment control plan must still be approved by the Soil and Water Conservation District. If the Environmental Protection Division is the permitting authority for the land-disturbing permit for the specific project, a thirty (30) day public notice will be required. All local jurisdictions with delegated environmental approval responsibilities should be guided accordingly in the development and approval of construction water and sewer project plans."

 The proposed project will be reviewed by the Bartow County Water Department and, if approved, one (1) copy of the approved plan shall be returned to the developer for construction purposes. The Developer shall schedule a pre-construction conference with his Contractor and the Bartow County Water Department to coordinate project construction schedules including making bores, installing taps, connecting to existing service lines, arranging for the acquisition of all necessary permits, etc. (Note: Contractors must possess a valid Georgia Utilities Contractor License and be formally approved by the Bartow County Water Department.) The Contractor shall then provide the Bartow County Water Department with a certified copy of his quote for the particular project. Prior to initial construction authorization of the project, a $655.00 Tap-On Fee per each water service main connection and an Inspection Fee, equivalent to 2% of projected Construction Cost, shall be submitted. (Note: Confirmation of the final contract total may be required before approval shall be granted for the project.) Also, water usage for filling and flushing will be billed at $4.50 per thousand gallons based upon a minimum of four (4) times the volume of the pipe. [Example: 5000 LF 8” pipe X 2.89 gallons/ft. X $4.50/thousand gallons X 4 = $260.10.] The Contractor must adhere to the Specifications of the Bartow County Water Department per materials used and methods of installation. During periods of construction the Developer and/or Contractor shall be responsible for installing locate flags, painting the curb at all road crossings, short-side taps and maintaining same until all service utilities are installed and completed. Should access to any new development cross or cover an existing PVC water service main, then the Developer shall be responsible for relocating the affected service line or replacing it with ductile iron piping (DIP). The Contractor will be required to periodically update the Bartow County Water Department regarding construction progress of the project so mandatory inspections can be scheduled and conducted. Due to past problems with ditches settling the Bartow County Water Department, at its own discretion, may require that compaction tests be performed by a reputable firm at the Developer’s expense to assure proper compaction has been achieved. Prior to the installation of water meters within a development, all required water utility system tests shall be conducted and passed per Bartow County Water & Sewer System Specifications while any applicable property deeds and/or utility easements shall be executed and properly recorded. As-built drawings shall be submitted to the Bartow County Water Department along with a $160.00 Plan Review Fee detailing the exact location of all water utility infrastructure including service lines, service taps, valves and fire hydrants. These as-built drawings shall be produced by the Engineer of Record for the project and presented on two (2) complete sets of fresh drawings. The Engineer of Record must also certify upon the as-built drawings that they (or designated representative thereof under their direct supervision) have made sufficient visits to the project site confirming the said development was constructed according to Plans and Specifications as approved. A final inspection shall then be conducted by the Bartow County Water Department to assure that these as-built drawings are accurate and that all meter setters and boxes have been properly installed. Once all required maintenance procedures indicated during this final inspection have been successfully completed by the Contractor and accepted by the Bartow County Water Department, final approval shall be granted for the project. (Note: If a water meter cannot be properly seated, an additional charge shall be made for adjustments performed to the setters and/or box or any repairs to the same.)  The Developer shall be solely responsible for all water and/or sewer system repairs performed within the development for a period of one (1) year from the date of final project approval. Should a leak or blowout occur during the required one-year warranty period, the Developer shall be responsible for all necessary repairs, estimated water loss, retesting of the utility system and reimbursement of any associated expenses incurred by the Bartow County Water Department. 

Bartow County Water & Sewer System Specifications

 
Bartow County Standard Specifications for Water & Sewer Construction

Bartow County Water & Sewer Site and Utility Details for Development

Bartow County Water System Development Procedures

Bartow County Water Service Main Installation Specifications

Bartow County Water Meter Vault Specifications

Bartow County Sewer Service Development & Installation Specifications

Bartow County Sanitary Sewer Systems Inspection & Testing Procedures

Development Fees

The following Development Fees must be paid prior to final approval and connection with the Bartow County Water & Sewer System. (Note: Additional charges may be required!)

Flow Test Fees - $105.00 per Flow Test.

Plan Review Fees - $160.00 per each new set of plans or each new revision of plans reviewed including preliminary plans, construction plans and as-builts (final plans).

Tap-On Fees - $655.00 per service main connection.

Inspection Fees - 2% of total development construction costs per the Contractor’s certified quote.

Readiness-to-Serve Fees* - Readiness-to-Serve Fees are comprised of two (2) separate fees for each service including a Water Capacity Fee and a Water Distribution & Transmission Fee for water service and a Wastewater Capacity Fee and a Wastewater Collection Fee for sewer service. Water Distribution & Transmission Fees are determined based upon the greater amount of either: A) $655.00 per Equivalent Dwelling Unit (E.D.U.), equal to approximately 350 Gallons per Day (G.P.D.) as detailed within the “Bartow County Water Department Structural Daily Water Usage Schedule” or B) The applicable Water Distribution & Transmission Fee indicated within the “Water Service Readiness-to-Serve Rate Table” below. Wastewater Collection Fees are determined based upon the greater amount of either: A) $760.00 per Equivalent Dwelling Unit (E.D.U.) or B) The applicable Wastewater Collection Fee indicated within the “Sewer Service Readiness-to-Serve Rate Table below. Water & Sewer Capacity Fees are determined based upon the greater amount of either:  A) The Water and Sewer Capacity Fees indicated within the Water & Sewer Service Readiness-to-Serve Rate Tables below or B) The amount calculated when multiplying the number of units by $1,125.00 for water service and by $1,375.00 for sewer service.
 

Bartow County has become one of the most rapidly developing political subdivisions in the State of Georgia. According to the 2000 United States Census, our population exceeds 76,000 residents, reflecting a substantial increase of approximately 36% during the past decade. Residential, commercial and industrial developments established in response to this continued growth have placed vigorous construction and service demands upon every local utility provider including the Bartow County Water & Sewer Department. Within the last five (5) years, the total number of Bartow County Water & Sewer System serviced customers has increased by 115%, resulting in a current system-wide water consumption average of approximately 6.5 M.G.D. (Million Gallons per Day). The Bartow County Government recently obtained the professional services of economic advisors, certified auditors and engineering firms to conduct a series of financial evaluations, system infrastructure analyses, environmental surveys and resource availability studies in formulating the most productive and cost-efficient solutions to successfully manage the impacts of continued growth upon our local communities. The information collected and resolutions discovered from this extensive period of research are detailed within the Bartow County Growth Management Plan © February 7, 1997. Monetary funding required for the construction of water and wastewater system expansion projects deemed essential within this publication are currently provided to our department through several financial resources including metered water sales; corporate and private grants; short-term loans and capital collected through the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (S.P.L.O.S.T.) Program successfully voted into Bartow County law during the June 19, 2007 Election that is projected to provide our utility system with an additional $31.35 million of operational and construction revenue through 2007. Projects associated with this program include: Glade Road Area Collection Sewers, Pump Station & Force Main; Southeast Bartow County Waste Water Treatment Plant; State Route 113 12” & 16” Water Mains; Woodland School Sewer Pump Station Replacement & Force Main; Camden Woods Subdivision Collection Sewers; Founders Grove Subdivision Trunk & Collection Sewers; Cassville Area Collection Sewers; Two Run Creek Trunk Sewer, Force Main & Treatment Plant; Kingston Collection Sewers; Ivy Chase Subdivision Collection Sewers; Peeples Valley Road 3 Million Gallon Water Reservoir; Saddlebrook Subdivision & Greystone Subdivision Collection Sewers; Willow Bend Subdivision Collection Sewers; Highway 411/Interstate-75 Interchange Crossing 12” Water Main Replacement; Zion Road Water & Sewer System Improvements; Mosteller Road & East Pleasant Valley Road 8” Water Mains; Maxwell Road, Old Tennessee Road & Olive Vine Church Road 8” Water Mains; Cagle Road 8” Water Main; State Route 20 Sewer Line Replacement; and Holly Springs Road 12” Water Main. For additional information regarding these projects, please contact Mr. Roger Ellis; Bartow County Water Department Engineering & Project Manager @ (770) 387-5169.

The development and implementation of technological advancements have become the most instrumental and effective methods utilized for efficient growth-management planning solutions within government agencies, corporations, industrial manufacturers, utility systems, and other public service providers throughout the world. The Bartow County Government and its associated administrative departments have invested a substantial amount of financial resources and personnel hours toward the establishment and daily operation of a Geographic Information System (G.I.S.). This comprehensive electronic mapping software application has effectively consolidated the environmental, hydrological, agricultural, demographical, parcel ownership and utility infrastructure features of Bartow County within an exclusive intergovernmental database. The Bartow County Water Department contracted the digital mapping expertise of Sanborn Colorado, L.L.C. ® headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado to assist with the conversion of over 900 water and wastewater utility system sources into G.I.S. coordinate-based digital renderings. Additional residential, commercial and industrial development mapping sources are routinely submitted to Mactec Engineering and Consulting headquartered in Warner Robins, Georgia for digital conversion to ensure our utility system infrastructure has been represented in an accurate and timely manner. This exceptionally beneficial software application has permitted our department to successfully design more cost-efficient construction plans and procedures; reduce utility service outage response times; perform immediate infrastructure locates and provide vital water and wastewater system information to our customers, maintenance & operations personnel, developers, engineers, contractors, local utility providers, corporation, industrial manufacturers, etc. and shall continue to provide our organization and other Bartow County Government administrative departments with unprecedented operational capabilities. For additional information regarding the Bartow County Water Department Geographic Information System (G.I.S.), please contact Mr. Michael Yancey; M.I.S./Administrative Assistant @ (678) 721-5489, Mr. Bryan St. Mary, Bartow County Government G.I.S. Technician @ (770) 607-6184 or Mrs. Robin Puryear; Bartow County Government Information Systems Manager @ (770) 607-6358.