Effingham County leaders say work is now underway on a new regional water system drawing from the Savannah River after state leaders approved more than $500 million in funding to expand surface-water capacity across the Coastal Empire.

The Effingham County Board of Commissioners said the project will support a long-term, reliable water supply for Effingham, Bryan, Bulloch and Chatham counties, including the City of Savannah, while reducing reliance on the Floridan Aquifer — a major drinking-water source for nearly 10 million people.

Gov. Brian Kemp and the General Assembly committed the funding as part of a broader regional plan to address long-term water needs in fast-growing coastal Georgia.

Read more at WTOC11.