City of Perry turns valve for newly operational water treatment plant 

PERRY — The City of Perry, alongside members of the community, gathered at the A.E. Harris Water Treatment Facility to celebrate its full operational status with a valve turning ceremony on Thursday. 

Mayor Randall Walker said the city has long been looking to build another water treatment plant. 

“We are very grateful to celebrate this important milestone for the City of Perry and also for the multi generational investment that is being made to serve our current citizens and also our residents of the future,” he said. 

The A.E. Harris Water Treatment Plant is a $50 million investment, financed through the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority. 

“We really are thankful for the state having the faith in us in building this project and continuing moving forward,” he said.  

In 2018, the city began discussing the needs of wastewater treatment expansion. Walker said the plan was to expand the facility on Frank Satterfield Road. He was then told it was not possible, so they conducted a feasibility study at A.E. Harris in 2020. 

“This location was defined as the best location in Houston County to serve all of the things we have outlined in our needs,” he said. “Here we are six years later, we’ve got a wastewater treatment plant that is up and running. It’s going to serve the citizens of Perry and Houston County for a very long time.” 

Walker believes this plant will keep on running for the foreseeable future, with the one on Frank Satterfield Road over 70 years old. He said the A.E Harris Water Treatment Plant will hopefully last over 100 years.  

“Thank you to the citizens of Houston County and Perry for their continued support that we can build facilities like this,” he said. “I also want to thank city staff and council for their continued support and hard work that they’ve put in for making this a reality.” 

Walker also thanked the engineers, contractors and community partners for their part in making the facility up and running.  

Overall, Walker shared that this facility will ensure the City of Perry continues to provide reliable, high-quality wastewater treatment for its residents and businesses while looking ahead. 

“By planning ahead and investing into infrastructure now, we are preparing Perry for responsible growth for many years to come,” he said. “This project will support economic development, new opportunities for our community and future generations. It strengthens the reliability and resilience of Perry’s wastewater treatment system and 

demonstrates our commitment to protecting the environment in our local hardways.” 

Chairman Dan Perdue said it’s been great to collaborate with the city on this project and said facilities like these are critical. 

“What we’re celebrating and turning the valve on is one of the most critical roles in government in terms of infrastructure, utilities and serving the people through those,” he said. “The cooperation we have in this community is key, and I want to thank the City of Perry for their continued good cooperation with Houston County.” 

Perdue mentioned that growth is important and that they want to see their entire industry grow here in Houston County and the City of Perry. He noted that the future is certain and that the City of Perry is forward-facing. 

“We don’t know everything the future holds, but we know that there is a future and we have to be ready for it,” he said. “Mayor, council and staff, this is a very forward looking facility.” 

The A.E. Harris Water Treatment Plant is located at 367 A.E. Harris Road in Perry.