Middle Ocmulgee Region Technical Information

In support of the Regional Plan Update, separate technical memoranda were developed for both water and wastewater forecasting as well as a resource gap analysis.

Water and Wastewater Forecasting

MOC 2050 Water Demands

Water and wastewater demand forecasts form the foundation for water planning in the Middle Ocmulgee Region and serve as the basis for the selection of water management practices. Forecasts are summarized within Section 4 of the   Download this pdf file. Regional Water Plan . Additional detail can be found in the Download this pdf file. Water and Wastewater Forecasting Technical Memorandum . A high-level summary of this technical information is also included on the Council’s  Download this pdf file. Fact Sheet .

Over the next 35 years, the population in the Middle Ocmulgee Region is projected to grow by 32%, increasing the demands for surface water and groundwater and increasing the quantity of wastewater generated. Total water withdrawals by municipal, industrial, agricultural, and energy sectors are projected to increase by 36% (81 million gallons per day (MGD)) from 2015 to 2050. Total wastewater flows are projected to increase by 31% (39 MGD) over the same period.

Gap Analysis

The Gap Analysis Technical Memorandum compares the water and wastewater demand forecasts to the available resources. This material is also summarized within Section 5 of the Download this pdf file. Regional Water Plan . Areas where future demands exceed the estimated capacity of the source have a potential gap that may be addressed through water management practices. Potential water resource issues identified for the Middle Ocmulgee Region include:

  • Need for additional wastewater planning and treatment capacity, especially in fast growing areas such as Newton and Houston counties.
  • Need for additional wastewater planning and monitoring to address potential low available DO or limited assimilative capacity in several streams.
  • Potential high nutrient loadings into Lake Jackson (particularly total nitrogen) and in the watersheds above Lake Jackson because of significant point source discharge contribution.
  • Need for additional watershed protection and management of non-point and point discharge sources to further improve existing impaired stream status.
  • Need for OSSMS (septic) system management in rural counties.