After Eastern Groundwater Report Detailed Aquifer Concerns, Virginia Lawmakers Consider Policy Shifts
A Virginia DEQ report details declining groundwater availability east of Interstate-95, prompting lawmakers to consider policy shifts. Senator Richard Stuart is actively opposing a proposed Amazon data center's water withdrawal permit in King George County, citing the report's findings. The DEQ has proposed recommendations to the General Assembly to address the issue and potentially restrict new water withdrawals.
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has released a 117-page report highlighting a projected decline in groundwater availability in Eastern Virginia, particularly east of Interstate-95. The report indicates that the Eastern Groundwater Management Area cannot sustain new major industrial water withdrawal permits without jeopardizing water availability and risks ground subsidence and saltwater intrusion.
Following the report's release, lawmakers in Richmond are considering policy changes, and a bipartisan group of senators has urged Governor Abigail Spanberger to call a special session to address these concerns. DEQ Director Mike Rolband noted that the 1992 Groundwater Management Act has had mixed results, despite reducing water withdrawals. Proposed solutions include the SWIFT water injection project in Hampton Roads, which is under construction, and exploring similar projects in Northern Virginia, funded by a recently signed biennial budget.
The DEQ has pitched several policy recommendations to the General Assembly, including granting the department more discretion to deny water withdrawal permits and directing applicants toward alternative water sources like wastewater reuse. They also requested increased funding for staff to study groundwater issues and manage permit reviews, and suggested raising groundwater withdrawal fees.
Amidst these discussions, Senator Richard Stuart (R-King George) has expressed firm opposition to a proposed Amazon data center in King George County, which seeks to withdraw 6.4 million gallons of water annually from the Potomac aquifer for cooling. Senator Stuart argued that granting this permit would contradict the DEQ's own findings that the aquifer cannot handle new major withdrawals and urged the DEQ to deny the permit, emphasizing that drinking water for King George County residents should take priority over data center use.