October 13, 2026
Meeting Summary: Coosa-North Georgia Council March 10, 2026
Meeting Summary: Coosa-North Georgia Council
To: Coosa-North Georgia (CNG) Regional Water Planning Council
From: Sarah Skinner, Georgia Water Planning and Policy Center
Christine Voudy, Georgia EPD
Subject: Meeting Summary: CNG Regional Water Planning Council Meeting
Meeting Date: March 10, 2026
Welcome and introductions. Chairman’s report. Approval of minutes.
Chairman Brooke Anderson called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. He welcomed attendees, introduced representatives from the Georgia Water Planning and Policy Center (GWPPC) and Georgia EPD (GAEPD), and invited council members and observers to introduce themselves. A motion was made and approved to adopt the minutes from the November 11 meeting in Jasper, GA. A motion was made and approved to adopt the agenda for today’s meeting.
Updates from the Georgia Water Planning and Policy Center
Sarah Skinner provided information on regional water planning webinars and encouraged members to watch for notifications on the next webinar on data centers. Laura Rack provided a progress update on implementation assessment for the Coosa-North Georgia Region.
Updates from Georgia Environmental Protection Division
Christine Voudy provided updates on Georgia EPD activities and the Regional Water Plan Grant Program. Recommended grant projects were forwarded to the GA EPD Director for final funding decisions, including one application from the Coosa-North Georgia region.
Ms. Voudy discussed the grant application process and noted that applications for the next funding cycle would be due in October. In response to questions, she explained that GA EPD is emphasizing projects that implement existing regional water plans rather than projects focused primarily on additional planning.
Ms. Voudy also provided an update on State Water Council activities and proposed changes approved on December 9, 2025. At the time of the meeting, related legislation had passed the Georgia House and was under consideration in the Senate. GA EPD had also begun contracting for updates to surface water, groundwater, and water quality models to support future regional water planning.
Panel: Challenges and Opportunities with Septic Management, Receiving, and Hauling
Panelists:
- Gary McVey, Ellijay-Gilmer County Water & Sewerage Authority
- Jonathan Terry, Georgia Department of Public Health District 2
- Keith Higgs, Eco-Tech
The panel discussed challenges associated with septic system growth, septage hauling, treatment capacity, receiving facilities, and the potential for regional solutions.
Septic system growth and disposal capacity
Mr. Jonathan Terry described the challenges of regulating septage haulers across a district that includes urban and rural communities. Approximately 90 contractors operate within the district, and one of the greatest challenges is identifying appropriate locations for septage disposal. The district has approximately five primary receiving locations and has experienced the installation of roughly 40,000 new septic systems over the past ten years, averaging 4,000 annually.
Panelists noted that population growth and development are increasing reliance on septic systems, particularly in mountainous areas where extending centralized sewer infrastructure is technically difficult or cost-prohibitive. Residential development may continue through septic permitting even where wastewater infrastructure is not expanding.
Challenges for wastewater treatment facilities
Mr. Gary McVey discussed the operational challenges of accepting septage at the Ellijay-Gilmer County Water & Sewerage Authority's treatment facility. Septage has significantly higher biological oxygen demand (BOD) than typical domestic wastewater and can create substantial treatment demands even at relatively low volumes.
Mr. McVey explained that the facility generally receives approximately 5,000–7,500 gallons of septage per day, with larger volumes presenting operational challenges. The facility stopped accepting new haulers in 2020 because of capacity limitations. Planned improvements may allow additional septage receiving in the future.
Mr. Keith Higgs emphasized that treatment facilities must be specifically equipped to handle septage. High organic loading can affect biological treatment processes, including nitrification, and receiving facilities must also manage solids, debris, and other materials commonly found in septic waste. Equipment upgrades, screening, additional aeration, and other operational modifications may be necessary.
Panelists also discussed the substantial upfront investment required for existing wastewater treatment plants to begin accepting septage. One estimate discussed was approximately $500,000 for a receiving and treatment equipment package, depending on facility needs.
Hauling costs, oversight, and system maintenance
Panelists described increasing hauling costs resulting from limited disposal locations and longer transportation distances. These costs can discourage homeowners from pumping septic systems regularly.
The discussion addressed previous efforts to establish routine septic pumping requirements, including a statewide proposal for five-year pumping intervals that did not advance. Participants discussed whether incentives or reduced costs for regular pumping could improve septic system maintenance and reduce long-term treatment challenges.
Recordkeeping and accountability for septage disposal were also discussed. Panelists noted that tracking disposal locations and verifying hauling records can be difficult, with varying practices among receiving utilities.
Opportunities for regional solutions
Council members and panelists discussed the need to better quantify septage generation and treatment capacity across the region. Participants suggested that a statewide or regional assessment could help identify projected disposal needs, available receiving capacity, and opportunities for infrastructure investment.
Public-private partnerships, regional receiving facilities, and dewatering technologies were identified as potential approaches to improving septage management. Panelists also discussed opportunities for utilities to evaluate septage receiving as a potential revenue source, provided they understand the associated treatment costs and infrastructure requirements.
The discussion reinforced the connection between septic management, continued development, wastewater infrastructure planning, and protection of regional water quality.
Special Presentation: Professional Perspectives on Emerging Water Policy Issues in Georgia
Dr. Courtney Cooper and Mr. Jackson Beck discussed their exploratory research on emerging water policy issues in Georgia. Their work will involve interviews with water professionals from across the state to gather approximately 30–40 perspectives on current and emerging issues.
They described their interest in learning from professionals working in water resources and invited Council members to participate or connect with them.
Council Priorities Discussion
Sarah Skinner facilitated a discussion to gather Council members' perspectives on regional water resource challenges, emerging priorities, and considerations for the next update of the Coosa-North Georgia Regional Water Plan.
The discussion began with an overview of the existing Regional Water Plan, including water resource assessments, projected water demands, and the relationship between future water needs and available supplies. Council members asked questions about water demand forecasting methods and how resource capacity is evaluated against projected demands. GA EPD also referenced the development of a tool to help identify areas of North Georgia with greater potential for productive groundwater wells.
Council members then participated in an individual reflection exercise addressing changes observed over the past 10–15 years, what successful water resource management could look like in 20 years, and the issues most likely to influence regional growth over the next five to ten years. Members also identified activities they would like to see more of, less of, or approached differently.
The facilitated discussion addressed four broad areas: Water Supply and Growth; Water Quality and Watershed Health; Infrastructure, Resilience and Risk; and Collaboration and Implementation.
Water Supply and Growth
Council members identified population growth and increasing water demands as significant pressures on the region's water resources. Participants noted the importance of maintaining sustainable and reliable water supplies while accommodating continued residential, commercial, and industrial development.
Discussion emphasized the need to better connect water resource planning with economic development. Members suggested greater engagement between Regional Water Planning Councils and local development authorities to better understand future development opportunities and associated water and wastewater infrastructure needs. Participants also discussed the importance of considering changing industrial water demands, including potential demands associated with data centers.
Council members expressed interest in exploring alternative approaches to meeting future water needs, including opportunities for efficiency, water reuse, and other supply strategies. Some participants questioned whether conservation should be the region's primary focus, except where significant water losses are occurring.
Water Quality and Watershed Health
Council members identified nutrient loading, nonpoint source pollution, and PFAS as important water quality concerns. Participants also discussed the effects of land use changes and increasing impervious surfaces on stormwater runoff, stream conditions, and downstream water quality.
Members noted that development has contributed to changes in streamflow and runoff patterns, including increased stream velocities during storm events. These conditions have created localized flooding and public safety concerns.
Participants expressed interest in strengthening stormwater and nonpoint source management in the next Regional Water Plan. They also emphasized the value of practical, cost-effective water quality improvement measures and raised concerns about the accuracy of some existing Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs).
Infrastructure, Resilience and Risk
Aging water and wastewater infrastructure, system water losses, and funding limitations were identified as significant regional challenges. Council members noted that while funding may be available for infrastructure expansion, securing resources for the repair and rehabilitation of existing infrastructure can be more difficult.
Participants discussed the need to address both current infrastructure deficiencies and future demands associated with growth. Members also recognized the effects of drought and flooding cycles on water resource management and the importance of considering these conditions in future planning.
Collaboration and Implementation
Council members emphasized the importance of continued collaboration among utilities, local governments, development authorities, neighboring Regional Water Planning Councils, and other stakeholders. Participants identified opportunities for greater inter-council and interstate coordination, particularly where water resource challenges extend beyond individual jurisdictions.
Members discussed barriers to implementing management practices, including limited funding, unfunded mandates, and the need for stronger coordination with development interests. Participants expressed interest in identifying affordable, high-impact management measures that local governments, utilities, and other stakeholders could realistically implement.
The discussion also highlighted the importance of bringing additional stakeholders into regional planning conversations and ensuring that future management strategies reflect both existing water users and anticipated economic development.
Priorities for Future Planning
Throughout the discussion, Council members identified several areas for continued attention, including:
- Maintaining reliable water supplies while planning for population and economic growth.
- Strengthening coordination with development authorities and other regional partners.
- Addressing aging infrastructure, water loss, and funding for system repairs.
- Improving stormwater management and addressing nonpoint source pollution.
- Evaluating nutrient loading, PFAS, and other emerging water quality concerns.
- Identifying practical, cost-effective management practices and implementation opportunities.
- Improving regional and interstate coordination on shared water resource challenges.
In response to the final discussion question regarding what should be strengthened in the next Regional Water Plan, Council members specifically identified stormwater management and nonpoint source pollution as areas requiring additional attention.
The information gathered during this discussion will help inform the Council's consideration of regional priorities and future planning activities. The discussion did not result in a formal vote or adoption of revised priorities.
Public Comments; Closing Remarks; Adjourn
No public comments. The meeting adjourned.
Meeting Attendees:
Council Members Present (11):
- Brooke Anderson, Chairman
- Mike Berg
- Eddie Cantrell
- Larry Chapman
- Keith Coffey
- Kyle Ellis
- Keith Ethridge
- Melissa Free (virtual)
- Rebecca Mason
- Gary McVey
- Alex Sullivan
- Allison Watters
- Brandon Whitley (virtual)
- Kim Goldener (nominee)
- George Kelly (nominee)
- Buddy Moore (nominee)
- Stephen Smith (nominee)
Visitors
- Jack Beck, Berry College
- Tim Brunson, Chattooga County
- Jamelle Cherry, GEFA
- Courtney Cooper, Berry College
- Phillip Dean, Pickens County Water
- Rashelle Eubanks, District 1, Chattooga County Environmental Health
- Adam Hazell, Georgia Mountains Regional Commission
- Keith Higgs, Eco-Tech
- Mitch Jacqmain, Spicer Group
- Gretchen Lugthart, NW Georgia Regional Commission
- G. Ritchie Mullen, Georgia Forestry Commission
- Joshua Padilla, S&ME (virtual)
- Jonathan D. Terry, GA DPH District 2
- Tim Thoms (virtual)
- Tiffany Van Horn, Utilities Inc. of Georgia
GA Environmental Protection Division
- Clete Barton
- Tim Fields
- Parris Maguire
- Christine Voudy (Council Liaison)
Georgia Water Planning and Policy Center (Planning Contractors)
- Laura Rack (virtual)
- Sarah Skinner
- Caitlin Sweeney (virtual)