(a) The division is authorized to make grants, as funds are available, to any county, municipality, or any combination thereof, or to any public authority, agency, commission, or institution, to assist them in the construction of those portions of water pollution control projects which qualify for federal aid and assistance under the provisions of Title II of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 (P.L. 92-500), 33 U.S.C. Section 1281, et seq., as amended by the Clean Water Act of 1977 (P.L. 95-217) or as may hereafter be amended.

(b) The State of Georgia is further authorized to make grants as funds are available to any county, municipality, or any combination of the same, or to any public authority, agency, commission, or institution, by appropriate action of the General Assembly, with or without qualification for federal aid and assistance as set forth in subsection (a) of this Code section, where the need of such county, municipality, or combination thereof, or such public authority, agency, commission, or institution, is shown.