Southern Nuclear, Georgia Power partner to meet water needs in Waynesboro

When a broken water main left Waynesboro residents without clean drinking water, SNC’s Joel Leopard worked with GPC Local Manager Suzanne Sharkey to secure 250 cases of water. It was distributed to residents by Burke County sheriff’s officers.

A line of Burke County sheriff’s officers, together with Southern Nuclear and Georgia Power volunteers, unloaded nearly 13,000 pounds of bottled water to Waynesboro, Georgia, residents April 11. Southern Nuclear and Georgia Power partnered together to make the donation of three pallets of bottled water after a water main was broken in downtown Waynesboro April 10.

Though the water main was repaired, the situation left residents without clean drinking water until the city lifted a boil water advisory. After seeing a social media post from the sheriff’s office, Southern Nuclear Communications Specialist Joel Leopard reached out to Georgia Power Local Manager Suzanne Sharkey. Together, the pair worked with local water manufacturer Springtime to secure the delivery of about 250 cases of water to the sheriff’s office.

Sharkey used her husband’s personal vehicle and trailer to drive to Springtime’s factory in Grovetown, Georgia, load the water and then transport the supply back to Waynesboro.

The donation went directly to local residents for immediate use and also to help with future needs.

Southern Nuclear Communications Supervisor Ryan Dean was on-site at the sheriff’s office to help officers and Georgia Power volunteers to offload the water.

“This was a great example of our employees identifying a community need, partnering with Georgia Power and acting quickly to provide some relief,” he said. “Good community partners respond in times of need, and we were successful in that sense.”