Groundwater supply east of I-95 expected to decline within 5 to 10 years: DEQ
A new report from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) indicates that groundwater supplies east of the I-95 corridor, including several counties, are expected to decline within 5 to 10 years. The report highlights that this region has limited groundwater capacity for new major industrial development, including data centers. DEQ recommends that the General Assembly mandate localities in groundwater management areas to restrict growth based on water availability if other sources are not feasible.
RICHMOND, Va. – A recent report from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) warns that groundwater supplies in the state's Coastal Plain, particularly east of the Interstate 95 corridor, are projected to decline significantly over the next five to ten years. The study, published in late July, identified counties such as Henrico, Chesterfield, New Kent, and Charles City as having minimal remaining groundwater capacity to support major new industrial development.
Virginia, which is a major hub for data centers, faces potential groundwater constraints, with the report indicating that large withdrawals of 3 million gallons per day would not qualify for permits under current regulations. In response, the DEQ has recommended that the General Assembly enact legislation requiring localities within groundwater management areas to limit planned growth based on available groundwater, especially if alternative water sources are not viable.
The report was mandated by a bill passed in 2024, sponsored by Senator Richard Stuart (R-King George), and received support from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Jay Ford, Virginia Policy Manager for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that "Virginia's groundwater and drinking water is increasingly at risk" due to historic industrial usage, climate change, and the proliferation of data centers. Ford urged the administration and General Assembly to modernize water resource laws and impose more stringent requirements on data centers' water usage to prevent escalating problems like saltwater intrusion and damage to the Chesapeake Bay watershed.