If you live in Macon-Bibb County, your water and sewer service comes from the Macon Water Authority. It is a separate state-chartered agency, not a county department.
The short answer
- The Macon Water Authority (MWA) provides water, sewer, and stormwater service for Macon-Bibb County.
- It is its own public agency. It is not part of regular county government. The state legislature (the Georgia General Assembly) created it to do this one job.
- A seven-member board runs it. You elect four members by district and one chairman countywide. The Mayor appoints the other two.
- Main office: 790 Second St., Macon, GA 31202. Phone: (478) 464-5600.
What this means for you
Your water bill does not come from "the county." It comes from the Macon Water Authority. The Authority sets your rates and runs the pipes. The County Commission does not.
A "public authority" is a government agency built to handle one specific job. It has its own board and its own powers. It runs separately from the everyday county departments.
That is the answer to "why is it its own agency." The state set it up that way on purpose. Water and sewer get a dedicated body, so they don't compete with everything else in the county budget.
Who runs it
A seven-member board governs the MWA. The seats are filled like this:
- Four district members
- voters elect them within their own districts in Bibb County.
- One chairman
- voters elect this seat countywide in Bibb County. The chairman leads the board.
- Two appointees
- the Mayor of the Macon-Bibb County Consolidated Government names them.
The board's job is to:
- Set the budget and approve the rates.
- Approve big contracts and infrastructure — the major spending on pipes, plants, and equipment.
- Set policy.
- Oversee the top staff leader (the President/Executive Director), who runs day-to-day operations.
The board hires that top staff leader. As of June 2026, Michel Wanna is the interim executive director. He stepped in after the February 2026 death of longtime President/Executive Director Ron Shipman, and no permanent successor has been named yet.
For the current board roster — who holds each district seat, the chairman, and the vice-chairman — see the official Board Members page.
What they handle
- Water — your drinking water.
- Sewer — wastewater (what goes down your drains and toilets).
- Stormwater — rain runoff.
- Rates and billing for those services.
What they do NOT handle
The MWA is its own agency, separate from county government — which trips people up in two ways:
- It is not the Macon-Bibb County Commission, and it is not a regular county department. The Authority — not the Commission — sets your water rates and sends your water bill.
- Your water bill is separate from your property tax bill. Paying your county taxes doesn't cover water service; the Authority bills you for it directly.
How residents usually deal with this
Most people deal with the MWA in a few simple ways:
- Pay a water bill or start service — through the Authority, not the county.
- Report a water or sewer problem — a main break, low pressure, a sewer backup. Call the main office at (478) 464-5600.
- Follow a rate or budget decision — the board makes these. Board agendas and minutes are posted publicly (see the link below).
For the current cost of water and sewer, check the Authority's official rate information. Rates change over time.
Where to go next
Official sources:
- Macon Water Authority — official site
- service info, billing, contact.
- Your MWA (about and history)
- how and when the Authority was created.
- Board Members
- board structure, roster, and what the board does.
- Board agendas and minutes (BoardDocs)
- meeting records and upcoming votes.
- Enabling law (Macon-Bibb Code, Ch. 3 — Macon Water Authority)
- the law that established the Authority.
A quick bit of history: the agency began in 1973 as the Macon-Bibb County Water and Sewerage Authority. It started with five members. In 1992 it was renamed the Macon Water Authority.
- Macon Water Authority — official site — that the MWA provides water, sewer, and stormwater for Macon-Bibb County; main office address and phone.
- Your MWA (about / history) — that the Georgia General Assembly created the MWA as a separate public authority; created in 1973 (five members); renamed in 1992.
- MWA Board Members — seven-member board; four elected district reps; countywide-elected chairman; two mayoral appointees; the board's duties (budget, rates, contracts, policy, overseeing the President/Executive Director).
- 41NBC — MWA leadership transition — Michel Wanna named interim executive director (effective Feb. 9, 2026) after Ron Shipman's death.
- Macon-Bibb County Code, Ch. 3 — Macon Water Authority — the enabling law for the Authority.
- MWA Board agendas & minutes (BoardDocs) — public meeting records and votes.