A new report by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) indicates eastern Virginia has insufficient groundwater to meet demand. On November 30, 2016, Virginia’s State Water Commission will discuss the JLARC study and its recommendations (meeting agenda).

Published in October 2016, the “Effectiveness of Virginia’s Water Resource Planning & Management” report examines the management of water sustainability through state, regional, and local water planning; state permitting; and water supply projects. The report, prompted by 2015 General Assembly direction, provides 22 recommendations and 2 options for action. Highlights are listed below:

Legislative action

• Require that regional water supply plans be developed that are aligned with water location and common water use
• Prescribe that the state plan should define how the state will (i) facilitate regional planning and (ii) provide differentiated planning, policy, and technical assistance to each region
• Require that groundwater withdrawal permits in eastern Virginia primarily for human consumption be reviewed and approved prior to reviewing requests for all other types of use
• Require that no single permitted groundwater user in eastern Virginia may withdraw more than a specified percentage of total permitted withdrawal amounts
• Require an assessment of state resources needed to facilitate regional water planning, and a proposal for the state to take a more active role in water supply project planning

Executive action

• Develop a plan to reduce the amount of groundwater withdrawal capacity awarded to permit applicants to more closely reflect the amount used
• Identify the surface water segments in Virginia at the greatest risk of shortfalls