Virginia’s Water Quantity Virginia’s Water Quantity ManagementManagement

Quality – Quantity RelationshipQuality – Quantity Relationship

Key concept: both are beneficial uses of Key concept: both are beneficial uses of available flow or supplyavailable flow or supply

Water quality beneficial uses include waste or Water quality beneficial uses include waste or pollution assimilation, fish and wildlife habitatpollution assimilation, fish and wildlife habitat

Water quantity beneficial uses include water Water quantity beneficial uses include water withdrawals for human activities, navigation, withdrawals for human activities, navigation, and recreationand recreation

These uses sometimes compete for the same These uses sometimes compete for the same gallon gallon

As available supply decreases the potential As available supply decreases the potential for conflict increasesfor conflict increases

Water Quantity History in VAWater Quantity History in VA

““Every one for themselves” planningEvery one for themselves” planning ““Water has always been there” planningWater has always been there” planning ““Won’t be a drought worse than the 1930s Won’t be a drought worse than the 1930s

drought” planningdrought” planning Started to plan when water use reached 80% Started to plan when water use reached 80%

of permitted capacity (VDH)of permitted capacity (VDH) Extended drought from 1999-2002 exposed Extended drought from 1999-2002 exposed

some inadequacies in planningsome inadequacies in planning

Water Planning pre-2003Water Planning pre-2003Water Planning pre-2003Water Planning pre-2003

Office of Surface and Ground Office of Surface and Ground Water SupplyWater Supply

Ground Water Characterization Ground Water Characterization Ground Water Withdrawal PermittingGround Water Withdrawal Permitting Wellhead ProtectionWellhead Protection Ground Water Protection Steering CommitteeGround Water Protection Steering Committee Surface Water Withdrawal PermittingSurface Water Withdrawal Permitting State-wide Water Withdrawal ReportingState-wide Water Withdrawal Reporting Local and Regional Water Supply PlanningLocal and Regional Water Supply Planning Surface and Ground Water MonitoringSurface and Ground Water Monitoring State Drought Monitoring and ResponseState Drought Monitoring and Response Interstate Water CommissionsInterstate Water Commissions

Manage water withdrawals and use through Manage water withdrawals and use through regulatory programs:regulatory programs: Virginia Water Protection Program, Virginia Water Protection Program, Ground Water Management Act of 1992,Ground Water Management Act of 1992, Local and Regional Water Supply Planning Local and Regional Water Supply Planning

ProgramProgram Water Use Reporting ProgramWater Use Reporting Program

Other tools like: Other tools like: Potomac Low Flow Allocation Agreement Potomac Low Flow Allocation Agreement

VA Water Quantity Mgmt ToolsVA Water Quantity Mgmt ToolsVA Water Quantity Mgmt ToolsVA Water Quantity Mgmt Tools

GW Management AreasGW Management Areas

Covers about 2/3 of Covers about 2/3 of the Coastal Plainthe Coastal Plain

Regulates an Regulates an estimated 57% of estimated 57% of withdrawals >300,000 withdrawals >300,000 gpm in CPgpm in CP

Does not include Does not include most single family most single family wells (est. 40 mgd)wells (est. 40 mgd)

GW Availability Problem AreasGW Availability Problem Areas

Ground water has been drawn down significantly Ground water has been drawn down significantly in parts of the Coastal Plain.in parts of the Coastal Plain.

Places along the fall line are declining more Places along the fall line are declining more rapidly than other areas.rapidly than other areas.

Field data is showing water levels are lower than Field data is showing water levels are lower than model predictions in these areas.model predictions in these areas.

0 10 20 30 40Miles

¹Middle Potomac Aquifer - Active Observation Wells

Active Observation Wells - Middle Potomac Aquifer

Middle Potomac Aquifer - Critical Cells

Active Model Area Middle Potomac Aquifer

2007 Beverly Quinlan

Areas where measured water levelsare approaching aquifer tops or criticalsurfaces

0 10 20 30 40Miles

¹Chickahominy-Piney Point Aquifer - Active Observation Wells

Active Observation Wells - Chickahominy-Piney Point Aquifer

Chickahominy-Piney Point Aquifer - Critical Cells

Active Model Area Chickahominy-Piney Point Aquifer

2007 Beverly Quinlan

Areas where measured water levelsare approaching aquifer tops or criticalsurfaces

VCP Model Simulated Water Levels Top of Potomac Aquifer2005 Total Permitted WithdrawalSteady-State Simulation

RASA Model Simulated Water Levels

Citizens on Ground WaterCitizens on Ground Water

Figure Populations and percentages of populations in Virginia Coastal Plain localities served by self-supplied ground water in 2000 (from Pope, USGS SIR 2007-5250)

2007 Water Use 2007 Water Use

2007 Public Water Supply Water 2007 Public Water Supply Water Withdrawals and Purchases Withdrawals and Purchases

MGD by Withdrawal Point

< 1.3

1.4 - 5.6

5.7 - 16.0

16.1 - 36.9

37.0 - 162.0

MGD Purchased

< 1.3

1.4 - 5.6

5.7 - 16.0

16.1 - 36.9

37.0 - 162.0

2003-2007 Public Water Supply Water 2003-2007 Public Water Supply Water Use with Population GrowthUse with Population Growth

0

200

400

600

800

1000

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

year

Wa

ter

Us

e (

MG

D)

6

6.3

6.6

6.9

7.2

7.5

7.8

Po

pu

lati

on

(in

mil

lio

ns

)

Ground Water Surface Water Population

Data Limitations for State Data Limitations for State and Local Water Planningand Local Water Planning

Current Monitoring NetworkCurrent Monitoring Network

Policy LimitationsPolicy Limitations Unlike other neighboring states, Virginia has not had a Unlike other neighboring states, Virginia has not had a

stated policy to promote and facilitate the development stated policy to promote and facilitate the development of basic data to characterize water resources to of basic data to characterize water resources to determine surface and groundwater resource availability determine surface and groundwater resource availability statewide.statewide.

Water supply is a state and local responsibility--there are Water supply is a state and local responsibility--there are no federal mandates for this effort and funding is solely no federal mandates for this effort and funding is solely state general fund money.state general fund money.

State budget cuts have greater impact on water resource State budget cuts have greater impact on water resource programs more than those with federal funding or programs more than those with federal funding or mandates.mandates.

Multiple agencies regulating the resource limits data Multiple agencies regulating the resource limits data development and sharing without clear legislative policy.development and sharing without clear legislative policy.

How much groundwater do we How much groundwater do we have?have?

Important question for many localities to Important question for many localities to plan in an informed mannerplan in an informed manner

Can’t be answered anywhere in VirginiaCan’t be answered anywhere in Virginia Our groundwater monitoring capability Our groundwater monitoring capability

peaked in the 1980s and adequate peaked in the 1980s and adequate investment has not returned or kept pace investment has not returned or kept pace with growing data needs.with growing data needs.

Modeling tools have not been updated Modeling tools have not been updated since the early 1990ssince the early 1990s

Well Construction DatabaseWell Construction Database

Uses of Well DataUses of Well Data

Coastal Cross SectionCoastal Cross Section

Geologic Mapping available from VGDMR and USGS 2008

Spring DatabaseWater Use

= Hydrologic Mapping

Well Database

Available Publications about Ground Water Conditions in Virginia Sparse

How much surface water do we How much surface water do we have?have?

Important question for many localities and Important question for many localities and industries to plan in an informed mannerindustries to plan in an informed manner

Can be answered better than groundwaterCan be answered better than groundwater Our surface water monitoring capability Our surface water monitoring capability

peaked in the 1980s and adequate peaked in the 1980s and adequate investment has not returned or kept pace investment has not returned or kept pace with growing data needs.with growing data needs.

Gaps in surface water dataGaps in surface water data

Limited understanding of agricultural useLimited understanding of agricultural use Lack of certainty on the amount of water Lack of certainty on the amount of water

grandfathered withdrawals can takegrandfathered withdrawals can take Lack of pre-determined in-stream flow Lack of pre-determined in-stream flow

criteria for beneficial usescriteria for beneficial uses No river basin water budgetsNo river basin water budgets Limited resources to investigate impacts of Limited resources to investigate impacts of

changing weather patterns changing weather patterns

Agricultural UseAgricultural Use

Use amounts and patterns are not well Use amounts and patterns are not well understoodunderstood

Appears to be under-reported and Appears to be under-reported and reported data can be problematicreported data can be problematic

Use typically occurs during times of water Use typically occurs during times of water scarcityscarcity

Currently there are no agricultural water Currently there are no agricultural water withdrawals under permit withdrawals under permit

VWPVWP Excluded Max CapacityExcluded Max Capacity

Required by 9VAC25-210-30Required by 9VAC25-210-30 Sent out: 1274Sent out: 1274 Responded: 369Responded: 369 Follow-up is in processFollow-up is in process Goal is to provide an analysis of the Goal is to provide an analysis of the

impact of this grandfathering in the impact of this grandfathering in the first State Water Planfirst State Water Plan

Users Excluded From VWPUsers Excluded From VWP

Coastal Plain Groundwater Coastal Plain Groundwater ManagementManagement

Resolution of state monitoring wells is Resolution of state monitoring wells is inadequateinadequate

Uncertainty causes us to make conservative Uncertainty causes us to make conservative assumptions in reviewing withdrawal proposalsassumptions in reviewing withdrawal proposals

Existing models cannot be refined or new Existing models cannot be refined or new models built without additional datamodels built without additional data

Salt water intrusion is a threat to supplies that Salt water intrusion is a threat to supplies that cannot be evaluated without additional cannot be evaluated without additional monitoringmonitoring

Current model is 20 years old Current model is 20 years old

Managing Cumulative Impacts Managing Cumulative Impacts to Surface Water to Surface Water

The permit program needs to be more The permit program needs to be more comprehensive in the futurecomprehensive in the future

Agricultural use must be better addressedAgricultural use must be better addressed Determining water availability is uncertain Determining water availability is uncertain

because the needs of recreation, navigation, because the needs of recreation, navigation, and fish and wildlife habitat are not adequately and fish and wildlife habitat are not adequately defineddefined

Requirements for water withdrawal reporting can Requirements for water withdrawal reporting can be improved by including return flows, sales, be improved by including return flows, sales, and transfers, and real measurements and transfers, and real measurements

Future Challenges and Future Challenges and OpportunitiesOpportunities

Water resource data needs.Water resource data needs. Water reuse/desal opportunities need to Water reuse/desal opportunities need to

become mainstream alternatives.become mainstream alternatives. Climate change is mostly about impacts to Climate change is mostly about impacts to

water.water. Population growth continues in areas Population growth continues in areas

without sufficient water resources.without sufficient water resources. Current system promotes inequity.Current system promotes inequity.

Future of Water Supply PlanningFuture of Water Supply Planning

Driven by managing our expectationsDriven by managing our expectations Water availability limited by geographic location drives Water availability limited by geographic location drives

optimizationoptimization Focus on water use efficiencyFocus on water use efficiency Revenues generated from full cost pricingRevenues generated from full cost pricing Need for storageNeed for storage

Regional solutionsRegional solutions Greater state role seems likelyGreater state role seems likely Use of integrated regional modeling Use of integrated regional modeling

infrastructureinfrastructure

Implications Implications

Greater interdependence among utilities is likelyGreater interdependence among utilities is likely—could see some system consolidation—could see some system consolidation

Revenue may be driven more by customer rates Revenue may be driven more by customer rates and less by surplus water salesand less by surplus water sales

Focus on the maintenance of existing systems to Focus on the maintenance of existing systems to help minimize loss and extend system lifehelp minimize loss and extend system life

Promoting conservation will be more commonPromoting conservation will be more common Permits will be more complex in how systems Permits will be more complex in how systems

are operatedare operated Systems will become more conjunctive Systems will become more conjunctive

Scott Kudlas,Scott Kudlas,DirectorDirector

Office of Surface and Ground Water Supply PlanningOffice of Surface and Ground Water Supply Planning(804) 698-4456(804) 698-4456

scott.kudlas@deq.virginia.gov

http://www.deq.virginia.gov/watersupplyplanning/http://www.deq.virginia.gov/watersupplyplanning/homepage.htmlhomepage.html