Winder and Auburn are working together to transform an old quarry into a one-billion-gallon reservoir, a $90 million project designed to secure the region’s water supply for decades to come.
Located at the former Martin Marietta rock quarry off Parks Mill Road in Auburn, the 78-acre site will be converted into a concrete-lined storage pond with the capacity to hold enough water to supply Winder for an entire year without rainfall.
Permits from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division allow for a withdrawal of 7.1 million gallons per day. Winder currently draws its water from the Mulberry River, a source shared with other communities. Once completed, this project will almost double the city’s permitted drinking water capacity from 5.1 Million Gallons Per Day (mgd) to 9.0 mgd. City leaders say the new reservoir will provide independence, resilience during droughts, and security for future growth.
“This is a major undertaking for a city our size, but it’s crucial for long-term sustainability,” Utilities Director Horace Gee said. “Even if we didn’t get another drop of rain, this reservoir would allow us to continue providing safe, reliable water.”