This dashboard reveals detailed information about Nutrient (or water quality) trading programs that seek to reach water quality goals more efficiently. Here you will find nutrient transaction sales locations, customers, totals, and prices. This data is invaluable to any industry or municipality under Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) or more stringent water quality-based requirements.
The primary purpose of the program is to provide a more cost-efficient way for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permittees in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed to meet their effluent-cap load limits for nutrients.
Pennsylvania is working to address water quality issues across the Commonwealth and as part of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The Nutrient Trading Program is one part of the bay restoration strategy being implemented.
Trades can take place through direct communication between credit buyers and credit generators. Generators may use PENNVEST nutrient credit auctions to buy or sell credits. Credits bought or sold through PENNVEST auctions must still go through all three steps in the Department of Environmental Protection Nutrient Trading Program.
In January 2005, the Commonwealth of Virginia issued the Chesapeake Bay Nutrient and Sediment Reduction Tributary Strategy. The strategy defines the reductions in nutrients and sediment necessary in Virginia’s portion of the bay to achieve and maintain the water quality necessary to support the bay’s aquatic living resources and to protect human health.
The 2005 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Nutrient Credit Exchange Program legislation authorized nutrient trading in Virginia’s portion of the bay. This legislation required permitted facilities to offset new or increased nutrient discharges to the bay and its tributaries.
This interactive map shows the current status of nitrogen credit trading in Virginia.
This interactive map shows the current status of phosphorus credit trading in Virginia.