Ron Shipman, President & Executive Director, Macon Water Authority

In an interview with Focus:, Ron Shipman, president & executive director of the Macon Water Authority, discussed major infrastructure upgrades, proactive planning for aging systems, rising operational costs, and water’s role in economic development. “We are proud to deliver first-class reliability, quality, and service to our community,” he said.

What have been the key milestones for the Macon Water Authority over the last year?
Recently, we won five awards from the Georgia Association of Water Professionals. Our Amerson Water Treatment Plant (AWTP), for example, was named one of the best-run water plants in the state. We also received an award from the Georgia Soil & Water Conservation Commission (GSWCC) for our Local Issuing Authority (LIA) program, which handles erosion and sedimentation control and demonstrates our commitment to protecting the natural resources of Georgia.

We are proud of these accomplishments, especially as we manage 200-year-old water and sewer infrastructure. Like Atlanta, Savannah, Columbus, and others, we must navigate how to move these systems forward for the next generations. We must do this while being mindful of the costs but committed to delivering a product vital to life — water. We take that responsibility seriously and work closely with citizens to meet expectations.

Beyond the awards, we returned to the financial bond market in September 2024 by traveling to New York to meet with S&P and Moody’s. We then issued $114 million in bonds for eight major projects, now underway. In 2024, we also conducted a rate study for 2025 and plan another rate study in 2025 for 2026, staying aligned with long-term infrastructure needs.

Moving forward aggressively is necessary, but we are mindful that customers, including myself as a customer, are bearing these costs. Water rates, food prices, and utility costs are all rising. Balancing customer service with sound business operations is key. With this business model shift, we are working to be more proactive and seek smarter ways of planning for the future.

What specific projects are underway at Macon Water Authority?
There are eight major projects, with several focused on wastewater treatment facilities.

At our Lower Poplar Wastewater Treatment Facility, we are re-engineering the influent pump station (IPS) building, a $14 million project. At Rocky Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility, we are investing about $19 million in engineering work for its rehabilitation. We are also rehabbing three major sewer lines, 18-inch, 24-inch, and 42-inch pipes, covering from a half-mile to over a mile, depending on the line. Maintaining the integrity of these aging pipes, many from the 1950s and 1960s, is critical.

Another major project is converting mechanical water meters to electronic ones. The older meters used an impeller-type system; the new electronic meters will improve accuracy and give customers better access to their monthly water usage data.

One of the biggest customer complaints has involved billing dates. In the past, due dates were based on manual meter reading routes. With the new electronic water meters, customers may eventually have the flexibility to adjust their billing due dates, easing financial strain on the timing of their monthly bills. Initially, deployment focused on residential customers, but looking back, I would have preferred starting with commercial customers due to their higher usage. We are now correcting that with a large meter replacement project estimated at over $17 million.

How are rising infrastructure costs affecting operations and customers?
The costs of doing business have risen sharply. Since COVID-19, the cost of many chemicals used to treat water, like chlorine, has increased by 400 percent. For example, one-ton chlorine cylinders that used to cost $800 have peaked at $4,000 per one-ton cylinder. At our water treatment plant, we use 10 of these cylinders every two weeks, which has added a significant financial cost to water service delivery.

Upgrading to Advance Meter Reading (electronic) meters is one way we are responding. This technology will ensure customers are more accurately billed based on precise meter readings, helping both residential and commercial users.

Having worked almost 40 years in the utility sector, I understand the division of responsibility and that utility work is utility work. System and pipes before the meter are our responsibility; items after the meter it is the responsibility of the customer. This includes piping and plumbing outside the residence of the customer is the responsibility of the customer. Whether it is water or electricity, customers want accurate billing and a great product. That is exactly what we are focused on delivering when it comes to water.

How has Macon’s water infrastructure evolved to support economic development?
In Macon, we are fortunate — and it came about through a catastrophe. In 1994, there was a severe flood caused by Tropical Storm Alberto. That storm sat over Middle Georgia for days. Here in Macon, the previous water treatment plant flooded, and customers were without water for about 19 days.

As a result, the leadership of the Macon Water Authority (MWA), at the time, purchased property in an adjacent county and built a reservoir. That reservoir holds 5.8 billion gallons of water. The MWA, utilizing federal and state funding, built and constructed the state-of-the-art water treatment facility. In times of crisis, the reservoir can serve citizens for 90 to 120 days without pulling a drop from the Ocmulgee River. 

Because of the forethought of the leaders, at that time, we now have a plant that has been operating since 2000, providing a premier level of service. When the Macon Bibb County Industrial Authority brings prospective businesses to town, one of the first stops is often the Macon Water Authority’s water treatment facility. Seeing the facility in person, seeing that 5.8 billion gallons, makes an impression that no brochure or description can match.

The Amerson Water Treatment Plant supplies water to customers in Bibb, Jones, and Monroe Counties. Customers, especially industrial and commercial customers, appreciate that reliability.

What role does water quality play in attracting businesses to Macon?
Water quality plays a huge role. Recently, the Georgia Association of Water Professionals (GAWP) recognized the Amerson Water Treatment Plant (AWTP) for producing the best-tasting water in District 5. We will now compete in Savannah for the best-tasting water in all of Georgia for 2025.

So, we have water supply, water delivery, and superior product quality, all at the highest levels. That combination matters when it comes to economic development.

I will digress for a moment to share a quick story. I visited a local discount store where they were offering bottled water delivery services. The salesperson asked if I was interested. I told her that I live in Macon-Bibb County — we have the best-tasting water in District 5. I do not need bottled water. We laughed about it, but it made me think about how fortunate we are to be in Macon-Bibb County and Middle Georgia.

We have also had businesses recognize the quality of our water firsthand. A hydroponic gardening facility is located here without truly knowing what kind of water quality to expect. After conducting their independent tests, they said it was some of the best water they had encountered at any of their locations nationwide.

That is what we aim to provide, not only for industrial and commercial customers, but for every resident we serve.

We are proud to deliver water and associated services that are reliable, superior in quality, and with unmatched customer service to our community. That is a testament to our employees. We have over 265 employees at the MWA. We serve water to customers in Bibb County, Monroe County, and Jones County. We provide wastewater services for customers in Bibb, Monroe, Jones, and the City of Byron.

Macon sits almost exactly in the geographic center of Georgia, and we are proud of what we are able to deliver from here.