As development tied to the Bryan County Hyundai plant ramps up, so too does concern over the potential impact on groundwater wells in nearby areas of Bulloch County. In response, the Bryan-Bulloch Groundwater Sustainability Program (GSP) continues to expand its framework, with local officials rolling out new tools and communication efforts to support residents.
At the April 1, 2025, Bulloch County Board of Commissioners meeting, Planning and Development Director James Pope—who also serves as Bulloch’s Groundwater Mitigation Manager—offered an update on the program’s growing infrastructure, including its hotline, outreach materials, and an upcoming meeting of the newly formed advisory committee.
The GSP was created as a joint effort between Bryan and Bulloch counties after the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA EPD) issued two key permits on October 7, 2024. These permits authorize the extraction of a combined 7 million gallons per day from the Floridan aquifer using four wells located within Bulloch County.
In his April 1 presentation, Pope noted that Bulloch and Bryan Counties are each responsible for appointing their own Well Mitigation Managers and maintaining local resources to support residents. In addition to Pope, Paul Teague, P.E., serves as the mitigation manager for Bryan County.
Pope reported that the GSP hotline 1-888-353-8020 is now live, operating 24/7 as a central point of contact for residents whose wells may be impacted. Messages left on the line are distributed to both mitigation managers, who will follow up within 24 hours.
Pope also highlighted that the program’s website is now active at https://bullochcounty.net/groundwater-sustainability-program/, providing access to key materials such as the GSP plan and policies, a voluntary well registration form, and an interactive map of the mitigation area. A list of licensed well drillers and educational resources are also available.
Registration is encouraged but not required to receive future assistance. According to Pope, the purpose of the registration effort is to improve the county’s dataset and ability to respond quickly if issues arise. As of April 1, 27 registrations had been received and 875 letters mailed to residents across the 1,039 affected parcels. The remaining 160 letters were expected to be delivered by April 2. Seven residents had also called to ask questions about the program.
Pope emphasized that residents can submit limited well information initially and update it later. The goal is to establish communication and track potential problems more efficiently than relying on postal mail alone.
As part of the April 1 update, Pope also confirmed that a draft Request for Proposals (RFP) is in place to solicit licensed well drillers for on-call work, ensuring that if any existing wells are impacted by aquifer drawdown, mitigation can be initiated quickly. The well drilling contract is expected to be awarded soon.
In terms of oversight, the GSP Advisory Committee has now been formed, with the first meeting scheduled for April 14, 2025, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Bryan County Board of Education building (8810 U.S. Highway 280, Black Creek, Georgia). That meeting will be followed by a public workshop from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the same location, which is designed to provide detailed program information and offer well registration opportunities to concerned residents.
The meeting will follow this agenda:
I. Call to Order: Welcome and Opening Statements
II. Introductions
III. Groundwater Sustainability Program Overview and Presentation
IV. Advisory Committee Comments
V. Adjourn
The four-member GSP Advisory Committee representing Bulloch County includes:
- Dr. Frank E. Davis III, a retired trauma and critical care surgeon and medical informatics professional;
- Douglas H. Lambert, President of Southeastern Hospitality Services, Inc.;
- Francisco Cubas, an Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering at Georgia Southern University; and
- Marty Beasley, a licensed well driller with Beasley Well Drilling and Pump Service, Inc., who serves as the alternate.
These members bring expertise in health, environmental science, business, and practical well operation to the table.
The GSP’s mission is to conserve, preserve, and protect the Floridan aquifer in both counties, while mitigating significant impacts to private and agricultural wells within a five-mile radius of the four permitted deep wells. To qualify for mitigation, a well must have been drilled before April 1, 2025 (or before any of the four wells are operational, whichever occurs later), draw from the Floridan aquifer, and not be part of a public water system. Eligible wells must also meet other criteria outlined in the program’s rules and policies.
Pope closed his remarks by reaffirming that the program is structured for long-term support, saying the registry will remain open and that updates can be made at any time.
With its advisory structure in place, its hotline active, and public outreach ramping up, the Groundwater Sustainability Program is poised to become a key line of defense for residents concerned about the long-term integrity of their water wells. The April 14 workshop is expected to draw significant public interest as county leaders continue working to protect both progress and natural resources.
