GroundwaterVirginia





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    NEW!
    Shore Petroleum Corp. of Corpus Christi, Texas has been buying gas leases in
    King George and Caroline Counties, VA. They have targeted about 100,000 acres
    of land in the Taylorsville basin, where gas shales have been identified. Sources
    report that they are paying landowners $10-15 an acre for the leases. Click here
    for more information of natural gas plays in Virginia.

    State Water Report 2011
    This annual report, submitted to the Governor and the Virginia General Assembly
    in accordance with Chapter 3.2 of Title 62.1 of the Code of Virginia, describes the
    status of the Commonwealth's surface and ground water resources, provides an
    overview of climate conditions and impacts on water supplies in the
    Commonwealth, and provides an update on the Commonwealth's Water Resources
    Management Program for Calendar Year 2011.

    Water Reuse: Potential for Expanding the Nation's Water Supply Through Reuse
    of Municipal Wastewater
    A new report  by the National Research Council. <<CLICK HERE>>

    A new study by scientists at Duke University (Geochemical evidence for possible natural
    migration of Marcellus Formation brine to shallow aquifers in Pennsylvania) presents
    evidence that fluids from deep shale-gas layers may be able to migrate into
    shallower aquifers. The report shows that pathways, unrelated to recent drilling
    activities, exist in some locations between deep underlying formations and shallow
    drinking water aquifers. CLICK HERE FOR THE REPORT

    North Carolina publishes a comprehensive study of oil and gas prospects,
    including an analysis of shale gas and fracking.
    Full report (very large file)
    Executive Summary


    Groundwater Management Update

    NEW INFORMATION COMING

    The Regulatory Advisory Panel (RAP) appointed by Virginia DEQ to discuss the Notices of
    Intended Regulatory Action (NOIRA) to expand the Eastern Virginia Ground Water
    Management Area to include the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula and various changes in
    the groundwater withdrawal permitting process has completed its task.

    The current groundwater management regulations are found in 9 VAC 25-600 and 9 VAC 25-
    610. Presently, the only GWMAs are the Eastern Shore GWMA and the Eastern Virginia GWMA
    (see: GWMA map). For a detailed description of the revisions to Virginia groundwater
    management regulations, CLICK HERE.

    Northumberland County Supervisors Approve Bluff Point PUD
    At its meeting on December 8th, 2011, the Northumberland County Board of
    Supervisors voted 4-1 to approve a special exceptions permit for the proposed
    Bluff Point PUD and specified Conditions required of the developer. Among these
    Conditions is a requirement intended to address the impact of groundwater
    withdrawals by the PUD. Unfortunately, the Condition is so poorly crafted--making
    neither scientific nor administrative sense--that it provides no protection to the
    wells and water supplies of households and communities in the vicinity of the PUD.
    CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO A CRITIQUE OF THE GROUNDWATER CONDITION

    Hampton Roads Planning District Commission Accepts Regional Water Supply
    Plan On July 21, 2011, the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission acted to:
    1) Accept the plan as meeting the requirement of the HRPDC work program; and 2)
    Distribute the Hampton Roads Regional Water Supply Plan to local governments
    for adoption. CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO PLAN

    Northumberland County Supervisors Adopt Regional Water Supply Plan
    On July 14 the Northumberland County Board of Supervisors voted to adopt the
    NNPDC Regional Water Plan. CLICK HERE FOR COPY OF PLAN
    Read Frank Fletcher's commentary on the water supply plan. CLICK HERE

    DEQ Constructed More Monitoring Wells on Surprise Hill
    On March 11 the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality awarded Water Well
    Solutions of Mechanicsville a contract to drill two new groundwater monitoring
    wells at the Surprise Hill station (Northumberland County). CLICK HERE FOR
    DETAILS

    The Virginia Department of Planning and Budget has released an Economic Impact Analysis of
    the proposal to expand the Eastern Virginia Groundwater Management Area.
    CLICK HERE

    State Water Supply Planning Regulation
    This regulation was developed to implement the mandate of Senate Bill 1221 (2003,
    c.227, SB1221), which requires that" "The Board, with the advice and guidance
    from the Commissioner of Health, local governments, public service authorities,
    and other interested parties, shall establish a comprehensive water supply
    planning process for the development of local, regional and state water supply
    plans consistent with the provisions of this chapter." Virginia's water quantity
    management is summarized by Scott Kudlas, director of water supply planning for
    VDEQ. CLICK HERE.

    Real-Time Groundwater Levels from the USGS (by county)
    This site displays groundwater hydrographs from 120 sites throughout Virginia. Scroll down to
    the county that you want and click on one of the well sites. Now included is the new
    groundwater observation well on Surprise Hill (Northumberland County).
    For a map showing the locations of the State Groundwater Observation Wells, click here.
       & The Environmental Spectator
UPCOMING MEETINGS

The ESVA Ground Water Committee’s Public
Workshop Series entitled “Wastewater Treatment
on the Shore – Part II: Rapid Infiltration Basin
Wednesday, October 24 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the
Nandua High School Auditorium in Onley.  Contact
www.a-npdc.org or A-NPDC on Facebook