Aquifers in the Eastern Virginia Groundwater Management Area are important drinking water sources for the Hampton Roads region. On January 1, 2014, the Eastern Virginia Groundwater Management Area was expanded to include the majority of the Virginia coastal plain. All groundwater withdrawals of more than 300,000 gallons per month within a designated groundwater management area require a permit from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

As of October 29, 2014, a total of 177 groundwater withdrawal permits were on record in the Eastern Virginia Groundwater Management Area, allocating approximately 147.3 million gallons per day (mgd) of groundwater for public water supply, industrial, commercial, agricultural, landscape irrigation, and other uses.

Public water supply and industrial uses account for 44.56% and 50.29%, respectively, of the permitted withdrawals. Another 2.27% of withdrawals serve mixed use developments that include public water supply, industrial, commercial, and irrigation uses.  
Approximately 144.3 mgd of the 147.3 mgd of total permitted withdrawals (98%) come from the Potomac Aquifer, the largest and most heavily used source of groundwater in the Virginia Coastal Plain.
 
The map below (download PDF) summarizes active groundwater withdrawal permits for 2014. Each point on the map represents the general location of a permitted withdrawal. The green symbols identify permits that have been issued or withdrawals that are occurring based on a certificate of groundwater rights. The yellow symbols represent permits that are pending issuance. Clicking on a permit symbol in this interactive map viewer reveals the permit holder, the permitted groundwater withdrawal, the water use category, and the source aquifer.