Guidance Documents: Requirements of the Water Supply Planning Regulation
The following list identifies those items that are required for all Local and Regional Water Supply Plans:
I. Evaluation of Existing Water Supply
A) Existing water source information
1. Include current information on existing water sources.
2. Include, for community water systems using groundwater, the name and ID number of all wells in locality, the well depth, the casing depth, the screen depth, the well diameter, the design capacity for the average daily and maximum daily withdrawal, system capacity permitted by the Department of Health, the annual and monthly permitted amounts contained in ground water withdrawal permits.
3. Include, for community water systems using surface water reservoirs, the name of the reservoirs, the sub-basins in which the reservoirs are located, the drainage area, the amount of on-stream storage available for water supply, the design capacity for average daily and maximum daily withdrawals from the reservoirs, the safe yield of the reservoirs, the capacity of any associated water treatment plant, the Department of Health permitted capacity of the systems, and any limitations on withdrawal established by permits issued by the board.
4. Include, for community water systems using stream intakes, the name of the stream or river, the drainage area of the intake, the sub-basin in which the intake is located, the design capacity for average daily and maximum daily withdrawal from the stream, the safe yield, the design capacity of the pump station, the design capacity of the water treatment plant, the capacity of the system permitted by the Department of Health, and any limitation on withdrawals established by permits issued by the board.
5. Include a list of all self-supplied users of more than 300,000 gallons per month of surface water for nonagricultural uses, the name of the water body utilized, the design capacity for average daily and max daily withdrawal, and any limitations on withdrawals.
6. Include, for all self-supplied users of more than 300,000 gallons per month of ground water for nonagricultural uses, the name and ID number of the well or wells, the well depth, the casing depth, the screen depth, the well diameter, the design capacity for the average daily and max daily withdrawal and any limitation on withdrawal.
7. Include the amount of ground or surface water to be purchased from water supply systems outside the geographic boundaries of the locality on a maximum daily and average annual basis, any contractual limitations on the purchase of the water.
8. Include the amount of water available to be purchased outside the locality from any source with the capacity to withdraw more than 300,000 gallons per month of surface and ground water, reported on a maximum daily and average annual basis and any contractual limitations on the purchase of the water.
9. Include a list of agricultural users who utilize more than 300,000 gallons per month, an estimate of total agricultural usage by source, whether the use is irrigation or non-irrigation, and whether the source is surface or ground water.
10. Include an estimate of the number of residences and businesses that are self-supplied by individual wells withdrawing less than 300,000 gallons per month and an estimate of the population served by individual wells.
11. Include a summary of findings and recommendations from source water assessment plans or wellhead protection programs, if applicable.
B) Existing water use in formation
1. Include the following information for community water systems:
a) The population within the planning area served by each community water system.
b) The number of connections within the planning area for each community water system.
c) The average and maximum daily withdrawal for each community water system within the planning area.
d) The amount of water used within the planning area on an annual average basis, and on an average monthly basis for each community water system expressed in terms of million gallons per day.
e) The peak day water use by month for each community water system within the planning area
f) An estimate of the water used on an average annual basis by self-supplied nonagricultural users of more than 300,000 gallons per month of surface and ground water within the service area of each community water supply.
g) An estimate of the amount of water used on an average annual basis by self-supplied agricultural users of more than 300,000 gallons per month of surface and ground water within the service area of each community water supply.
h) An estimate of the number of self-supplied users of less than 300,000 gallons per month of ground water and an estimate of the total amount of water used by them on an annual average basis within the service area of each community water supply.
i) For each community water system included in the water plan, the plan shall include an estimate of the disaggregated amounts of water used in categories of use appropriate for the system.
j) Include a qualitative description of existing in-stream beneficial uses within the planning area or outside the planning area that may be affected by the point of stream withdrawal.
2. Include an estimate of the water used on an average annual basis by self-supplied nonagricultural user of more than 300,000 gallons per month of surface and ground water outside the service areas of community water systems.
3. Include an estimate of the amount of water used on an average annual basis by self-supplied agricultural users of more than 300,000 gallons per month of surface and ground water outside the service areas of community water systems.
4. Include an estimate of the number of self-supplied users of less than 300,000 gallons per month of ground water and an estimate of the total amount of water used by them on an annual average basis outside the service areas of community water systems.
C) Existing resource information
1. Include a description of existing geologic, hydrologic, and meteorological conditions within the locality, and in proximity to the point of withdrawal if it is outside the locality.
2. Include a description of existing environmental conditions that pertain to, or may affect, in-stream flow, in-stream uses, and sources that provide the current supply. The description of conditions shall include the following items, if they are applicable:
a) State or federal listed threatened or endangered species or habitats of concern
b) Anadromous, trout, and other significant fisheries
c) River segments that have recreational significance, including state scenic river status
d) Site of historic or archaeological significance
e) Unusual geologic formations or special soil types
f) Wetlands
g) Riparian buffers and conservation easements
h) Land use and land coverage including items such as percentage of impervious cover within an watershed and areas where new development may impact water quality of the source
i) The presence of impaired streams and the type of impairment
j) The locations of point source discharges
k) Potential threats to the existing water quantity and quality, other than those from above
II. Needs Assessment and Alternatives
A) Projected water demand information
1. Include projections of future water demand. Population should be estimated according to information from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Weldon Cooper Center, the Virginia Employment Commission, or other accepted source of population information. Demand projection methodologies should be consistent with those outlined in the American Water Works Association or American Society of Civil Engineers manuals.
2. Estimate water demand within the planning area for 30 to 50 years into the future.
3. Include an estimated future water use projected at the beginning of each decade (2010, 2020, 2030, etc.) within the planning period.
4. Include the following projections for community water systems:
a) An estimate of population within the locality served by each community water system
b) A map depicting the proposed service area of each existing or proposed community water system
c) Estimated water demand for each existing or proposed community water system on both an annual average and peak monthly basis
d) Estimated water demand for each existing or proposed community water system disaggregated into categories of use appropriate for the system (ex: residential use, military use, heavy industrial use).
e) Total projected water demand for all existing or proposed community water systems disaggregated into the categories mentioned in subsection d.
5. Include a projection of water demand within the planning area on an annual average basis for each existing and any proposed self-supplied nonagricultural user of more than 300,000 gallons per month of surface and ground water located outside the service areas of community water systems.
6. Include a projection of the amount of water use on an annual average basis for each existing and any projected self-supplied agricultural user of more than 300,000 gallons per month of surface and ground water located outside the service areas of community water systems.
7. Include a projection of the number of self-supplied users of less than 300,000 gallons per month of ground water and a projection of the amount of water used on an annual average basis outside the service areas of community water systems.
8. Include any cumulative demand, use conflict, or in-stream flow information developed pursuant to 9 VAC 25-780-140 G.
9. Explain how the projected needs of domestic consumption, in-stream uses, and economic development have been accounted for in the demand projection for the planning period.
B) Statement of need and alternatives
1. Determine the adequacy of existing water sources to meet current and projected demand by preparing a clear statement of need that is derived from an evaluation of the information required by 9 VAC 25-780-70 through 9 VAC 25-780-110. The statement of need shall contain, at a minimum, a determination of whether the existing source is adequate to meet current and projected demands.
2. If the determination is that the existing source is inadequate to meet projected demands during the planning period, the program shall include an alternative analysis of potential sources that includes the following information:
a) A description of potential water savings from water demand management actions including an estimated volume for each action.
b) A description of potential sources for new supplies including an estimated volume from each source
c) A description of potential resource issues or impacts known for each potential new source that any future water project will need to consider in its development.
3. Potential alternatives considered shall include water demand management alternatives, as well as more traditional means of increasing supply, such as wells, reservoirs, impoundments and stream intakes. Where appropriate, the program shall consider nontraditional means of increasing supplies, such as interconnection, desalination, recycling and reuse.
IV. Water Demand Management
A) Water Demand management information
1. Address conservation as a part of overall water demand management in accordance with the following requirements:
a) Include information that describes practices for more efficient use of water that are used within the locality. They type of measure to be described may included the adoption and enforcement of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code sections that limit maximum flow of water closets, urinals, and appliances; use of lower-water use landscaping; and increases in irrigation efficiency.
b) Include information describing the water conservation measures used within the planning area to conserve water through the reduction of use. The types of measures to be described my include technical, educational, and financial programs.
c) Include information that describes, within the locality, the practices to address water loss in the maintenance of water systems to reduce unaccounted for water loss. The types of items to be described may include leak detection and repair and old distribution line replacement.
B) Drought response and contingency plans
1. A program that includes community water systems and self-supplied users who withdraw more than an average of 300,000 gallons per month of surface water and ground water shall contain drought response and contingency plans in accordance with the following requirements:
a) Drought response and contingency plans shall be structured to address the unique characteristics of the water source that is being utilized and the nature of the beneficial use of water.
b) Drought response and contingency plans shall contain at a minimum, the following three graduated stages of responses to the onset of drought conditions:
1) Drought watch state responses are generally intended to increase awareness to climatic conditions that are likely to precede the occurrence of a significant drought event. Public outreach activities shall be identified to inform the population served by a community water system of the potential for drought conditions to intensify and potential water conservation activities that may be utilized.
2) Drought warning stage responses are generally required when the onset of a significant drought event is imminent. Voluntary water conservation activities shall be identified with the goal of reducing water use by 5-10%.
3) Drought emergency stage responses are generally responses that are required during the height of a significant drought event. Mandatory water conservation activities shall be identified with the goal of reducing water use by 10-15%.
c) Include references to local ordinances, if adopted, and procedures for the implementation and enforcement of drought response and contingency plans.