City of Suffolk Legislative Agenda 2016 General Assembly Session
Legislative Requests ď ś Ground Water Withdrawal Conservation Incentive and Regulatory Certainty Program Legislation The long-term sustainability of the Eastern Virginia Coastal Plain ground water aquifers as a long-term water source for future generations is critically important. Through new enhanced computer modeling coupled with historical data, DEQ has determined the aquifers have been over-permitted and withdrawn at unsustainably high rates. The General Assembly and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality are pursuing actions to correct this situation. In cooperation with and as a member of the Western Tidewater Water Authority (WTWA) the City of Suffolk would like to propose a voluntary program to encourage the conservation of groundwater resources. Suffolk wants to ensure that safe drinking water is available for its citizens today and tomorrow. The purpose of this legislation is to provide incentives to participating permittees so as to support a substantial reduction in reliance upon ground water, transition to alternative sources, and development of related infrastructure. The incentives include time to make a smooth transition and an ensuing certainty period to support planning and investment. By accepting a voluntary 50% reduction in current groundwater withdraw permits, permittees shall be provided a transition period up to 15 years to plan, finance, and implement the necessary infrastructure to transition to alternative sources of water while retiring current valued ground water assets. This transition period ensures the smart strategic growth of a permittee’s water supply. Upon completion of the transition period and in order for the regions program participants to have the time necessary to plan, finance, and implement a more sustainable future, a regulatory certainty period of 20 years, in which the withdraw amount is not further reduced, will ensure long term conservation goals are achievable. Please see the appendices for more program details. Request: The Western Tidewater Water Authority, City of Suffolk, and Isle of Wight County supports legislation that will reduce current water withdrawal permits to protect the sustainability of the aquifers, so long as each of the major permittees who voluntarily take a sufficient permit reduction, are granted an adequate transition period followed by a reasonable regulatory certainty period.
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