At a December 2, 2025 workshop, staff reported the city had met with Forsyth County regarding Cornelia's nutrient trade request, indicating the trading arrangement itself is still being worked out with other basin entities and regulators.
IssueCorneliaunder consideration
Cornelia hires consultant to pursue phosphorus nutrient trading deal
The city is trying to offset a tightened wastewater phosphorus limit by trading with another Chattahoochee basin utility instead of building costly new filtration.
Latest
December 2, 2025: Nutrient Trade agreement negotiation with Forsyth County and EPD over phosphorus
What happens next
No next step has been documented.
At a glance
What this means now
The story
City staff said Cornelia is facing a tightened phosphorus discharge limit and is looking to arrange nutrient trading with one or more wastewater entities in the Chattahoochee basin that have a higher phosphorus limit than they currently need.
On October 7, 2025, the City Commission voted 4-0 to approve a proposal from Hawks Environmental for nutrient trading assistance. The proposal carried a cost of $25,900, compared with an alternative filter system estimated at $10 million, as the city faces an 85% reduction in its phosphorus limit.
At a December 2, 2025 workshop, staff reported the city had met with Forsyth County regarding Cornelia's nutrient trade request, indicating the trading arrangement itself is still being worked out with other basin entities and regulators.
What happened
How this issue got here
Open any step for its supporting record. A proposal remains labeled as proposed until later evidence establishes an outcome.
DiscusseddiscussedPhosphorous limit reduction via nutrient trading for wastewater discharge permit
We are looking to do what is called nutrient trading with one or more of the Wastewater entities in the Chattahoochee basin that have a higher phosphorous limit than they currently need.
+
Phosphorous limit reduction via nutrient trading for wastewater discharge permit
We are looking to do what is called nutrient trading with one or more of the Wastewater entities in the Chattahoochee basin that have a higher phosphorous limit than they currently need.
DiscusseddiscussedNutrient Trade agreement negotiation with Forsyth County and EPD over phosphorus
We met with Forsyth County about our
Nutrient Trade request.
+
Nutrient Trade agreement negotiation with Forsyth County and EPD over phosphorus
We met with Forsyth County about our Nutrient Trade request.
ApprovedconfirmedProposal from Hawks Environmental for Nutrient Trading Assistance
Proposal from Hawks Environmental for Nutrient Trading Assistance
Tab H Approved 4 - 0
+
Proposal from Hawks Environmental for Nutrient Trading Assistance
Proposal from Hawks Environmental for Nutrient Trading Assistance Tab H Approved 4 - 0
ApprovedconfirmedProposal from Hawks Environmental for nutrient trading assistance to address reduced phosphorus discharge limit
Commissioner Reed
made a motion to accept the Proposal from Hawks Environmental, seconded
by Commissioner Bagwell. Approved 4 - 0
+
Proposal from Hawks Environmental for nutrient trading assistance to address reduced phosphorus discharge limit
Commissioner Reed made a motion to accept the Proposal from Hawks Environmental, seconded by Commissioner Bagwell. Approved 4 - 0
Research the record