[ March 02, 2026 ] In a continued effort to responsibly manage community resources and ensure reliable utility service, the City of Jasper has formally extended its temporary suspension on new water and sewer distribution and collection connections.

During the Jasper City Council meeting on March 2, 2026, the council provided a major update, unanimously passing Resolution 2026-01. This resolution officially extends the pause on new connections for an additional year, with the new suspension running until September 8, 2027 [Time in video 15:16].

What Does This Mean for Current and Prospective Customers?
During the meeting, the council provided crucial clarity for current residents and business owners. Under the newly passed resolution, any residential or commercial property that already had active water service as of September 9, 2024 (the date the original suspension went into effect), is explicitly granted continued water service.

To further address specific property cases and streamline regulations, the council also passed Resolution 2026-02, which handles vested rights determinations surrounding water and sewer utility access.

Why is the Suspension Necessary?
The initial suspension and its extensions stem from a comprehensive capacity evaluation conducted by Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood (GMC) during their Utilities and Development Master Planning assessment. The study indicated that when accounting for previously approved developments, Jasper was facing a capacity deficit and approaching the maximum limits allowed under current utility permits.

City staff and the Council agree that this extended interim period is essential. It provides the City with the necessary time to:

• Perform critically prioritized rehabilitative and improvement work through recently funded GEFA utility projects.

• Increase functional capacity while protecting the integrity of the system for current customers.

• Secure additional raw water sources through partnerships with neighboring communities.

• Explore new groundwater sources and other innovative possibilities.

Mayor Kirk D. Raffield previously noted the difficult balance the city faces: "The City of Jasper is committed to supporting healthy growth within our community. We do have a responsibility to be good stewards of our resources and ensuring safe and reliable utility service to our existing customers... we're in a time where new development requests will put on hold to ensure the City effectively manages our resources."

A Community Call for Conservation
Because Pickens County is uniquely positioned as the only county in the State of Georgia without a major waterbody, city officials are strongly urging all customers to be proactive about conservation.

The City requests that all residents on the municipal water system limit outdoor watering and practice indoor conservation whenever possible. If you must water outdoors, officials ask that you do so every other day after 10 pm to minimize evaporation and system strain.