About the Facility

The Cornish Creek Water Treatment Facility was constructed in three phases. The original phase was completed in 1992 with an expansion completed in 1999 and another in 2010. The two earlier phases each have a water treatment capacity of 7.5 million gallons per day and the third phase has a treatment capacity of 10.0 million gallons per day for a total plant capacity of 25.0 million gallons per day.

Water Supply

Communities thrive with an adequate supply of clean and safe drinking water. Newton County benefits from one of Georgia's most protected and ample supplies of available water in the Alcovy River and Lake Varner. Clean drinking water begins with the source of "raw" or untreated water. Newton County's water production cycle begins with the collection of rainfall that hits the surface of the basin and drains into The Cornish Creek Reservoir (Lake Varner). In addition to natural rainfall and run off, water is pumped from the Alcovy River and stored in Lake Varner. 

The Facility

The Cornish Creek Water Treatment Facility features a state-of-the-art Super Pulsator Clarification process. Chemicals used in the treatment process for drinking water production include lime, chlorine, aluminum sulfate, sodium permanganate, powdered activated carbon, fluoride, and phosphate. All these different chemicals serve a different purpose during the various stages of water production. The water treatment process removes dirt, contaminates, pathogens, unpleasant tastes, and odors from the water. This process ensures the finished product of drinking water being pumped from the plant is pleasing, safe, and of the highest quality possible.

The Cornish Creek Plant is operated 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The staff on-duty at the plant are highly skilled and highly trained, state-certified water treatment plant operators and laboratory technicians. The plant operations staff have won numerous state honors for excellence in water treatment.