Regional Water Supply Planning Frequently Asked Questions

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This webpage provides DEQ responses to common questions received related to the development of regional water supply plans. This webpage will continue to be populated with additional questions received throughout the planning period. DEQ responses provided on this webpage serve as informal recommendations and suggested best practices, and do not supersede the Local and Regional Water Supply Planning regulation (9VAC25-780) or the associated guidance memo (GM 25-2002).

Frequently Asked Questions

Topic: Consulting & Coordinating

Question: Regarding 9VAC25-780-50.B.4, what is the timeframe that should be considered to determine which community water systems and self-supplied users local governments are required to consult and coordinate with? Are local governments required to contact all users who have met this threshold at least once over their period of record?

Response: As the regulation does not specify a required timeframe to be considered, local governments should exercise due diligence to ensure that significant water users are included in the plan development process. While local governments may consider the full period of record, it is likely best practice to consider water withdrawal reporting data at least as far back as the year 2000 to capture the drought of record that occurred in Virginia. Water withdrawal reporting data provided to DEQ between 1982 and 2024 is publicly accessible through DEQ’s Water Withdrawal Dashboard.