ATLANTA – A bill that would pave the way for private-public partnerships to build reservoirs in Georgia is drawing concern from some environmentalists who fear it could allow private developers to use the state’s water crisis to turn a profit.
The legislation – scheduled for a full House vote on Wednesday – is designed to help finance improvements to the state’s water supply by allowing private developers to partner with local governments to build reservoirs, create water treatment plants or repair leaky pipes.
But some environmentalists say the bill would allow for lucrative developments along the shore of new water reservoirs as long as they don’t use state funds. And it would let local government officials seize land through eminent domain and then convey the land to a private company.
“It’s a bad bill,” veteran Sierra Club lobbyist Neil Herring said.
Developers aren’t going to get involved unless they can make money, Herring said. He said the legislation allows them to do just that.