DEQ Director David K. Paylor
Director's Corner
Planning, conservation equal effective water management in Virginia
Having water flow from a faucet or garden hose is often taken for granted, especially on the water-rich East Coast. A drought, like the one most of Virginia is experiencing, helps many of us view Virginia’s water supply in a new way – as a limited resource that must be managed appropriately.
Recent rains across the Commonwealth have eased some concerns, but the precipitation will need to continue to fulfill the demands that spring and summer bring. The Drought Monitoring Task Force, of which the Department of Environmental Quality is a member, will continue to monitor the status of the drought and issue monthly reports on the agency website. DEQ is actively working with localities and regions on developing or fine-tuning drought response plans and ordinances.
Current water use restrictions and agricultural losses throughout Virginia highlight the economic and quality-of-life benefits that adequate water supplies and rainfall ensure. Growing demands will require that communities are well-prepared to meet future challenges.
Being prepared will mean that decision-makers at all levels of government, officials from businesses and industries, and every Virginian will have to find more efficient ways to use and conserve water. DEQ is helping advance this goal with several initiatives that provide a framework for improved management of water supplies in the Commonwealth.
As part of the response to the extended 1999 to 2002 drought, a statewide water supply planning effort was created. Since then, communities have been evaluating their water supplies, current uses and future needs. The first significant program milestone will be in November when the plans from localities with a population greater than 35,000 people and letters of intent for regional plans are due. The completion of all plans is scheduled for 2011. This effort will produce the first-ever locally developed statewide assessment of local demands for Virginia’s water resources.
DEQ is also making strides in how permitted withdrawals from surface waters and those without permits are handled. Last year, changes took effect for the Virginia Water Protection Permit Regulation that clarified the information necessary for permitted withdrawals and defined what withdrawals were exempt. This year DEQ is requesting information that will determine the maximum amount of water that could be used from unpermitted withdrawals. We expect that significantly less surface water will be available to support proposed new or expanded uses when this information is collected and evaluated.
The Commonwealth also has new regulations that encourage the reuse of treated wastewater or reclaimed water from municipal and industrial wastewater treatment facilities. Using reclaimed water will conserve high quality water for drinking and other essential uses, reducing stress on water resources throughout the Commonwealth.
While we have taken important steps in setting a new course for water management, we have additional work to do to enable sustainable and adequate water supplies for future generations. We also will continue to encourage voluntary measures of water conservation. Virginia’s participation in WaterSense, a partnership program with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is the newest example of this.
DEQ is challenging utilities and localities to join as well and is participating in the WaterSense State Challenge, which will recognize the state that signs up the most new partners. Becoming a partner in this program is an ideal way for communities to advance water efficiency as part of their water supply plans. The WaterSense label identifies high-performance, water-efficient products and professional certification programs. Prospective partners can download the application from the DEQ website.