The Macon Water Authority was formed in 1880 by an act of the Georgia General Assembly to serve as a public corporation. It provides municipal water and sewerage services for the city of Macon and Bibb County areas. Some of the departments of the Macon Water Authority are water distribution, sewerage conveyance, and laboratory and environmental compliance. In 2007, it was one of the six pilot communities to participate in a statewide educational program on outdoor water conservation. In 2009, the American Water Works Association (AWWA) conferred upon it, the honor of the Best Tasting Drinking Water in North America.