VILLA RICA, Ga. – Managing growth remains an emerging challenge for many fast-growing exurban communities just outside of the immediate metro Atlanta area. Villa Rica is one of those areas. It has more than 17,000 people living there now, compared to just over 4,000 residents 25 years ago.

“It’s almost exploding (population growth),” said Diana Desanto, Villa Rica’s interim city manager, “Certainly in the last five years, on the unprecedented side.”

That growth has put enough strain on infrastructure that the city is expected to extend a moratorium on new apartment complexes for 120 days. This comes as Villa Rica seeks solutions to sewer capacity issues driven by growth.

Villa Rica faces multiple challenges as it struggles to maintain its infrastructure at its current rate of population growth.

“The biggest challenge is balancing growth with the ability to provide the quality services that residents expect,” DeSanto said.

The system currently has two sewage treatment plants and is at 65% capacity. Download redirection and facility expansion are among the options explored.

“Now is the time to start that project,” said John Bane, director of utilities for Villa Rica.” It’s time to start looking at our options.”

Sewer capacity issues have created various troubling scenarios, including problems with proper treatment and processing of waste before it is dumped into a local creek near the Little Tallapoosa River.

Bane says regulatory approval of any sewer solution is a long process.

“Usually more than two years, I would say, from review and approval,” Bane said.

Villa Rica faces multiple challenges as it struggles to maintain its infrastructure at its current rate of population growth. (FOX 5)

He adds that it could take a year to expand a treatment facility.

Mayor Leslie McPherson sees managing growth as a top priority.

“We have so much to do and you can only handle so much growth at once,” McPherson said.