Virginia Department of Environmental Quality opens public comment period on water resources plans

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) announced Tuesday that the Virginia Water Resources Plan, which identifies challenges and solutions for the state’s water supply, is open to public review and comment.

The plan is Virginia’s first major endeavor in this field that uses information from locally developed water supply plans and offers analysis on how water demand in the future might change key water uses.

“This plan helps guide localities as they make decisions about their water supplies and helps in the management of the commonwealth’s water resources on local, watershed, and statewide levels,” DEQ Director David Paylor said.

One of the plan’s key features is an analysis of surface and groundwater sources as they currently stand and projections for their ability to meet water demand through 2040. The plan also includes recommendations including the creation of rules for surface water withdrawals and impoundment releases that currently fall outside the scope of the permitting requirements and increased conservation efforts to reduce demand.

The public comment period is open until May 8, giving citizens just over a month to voice concerns or support.