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| New wastewater regulations requiring nutrient controls in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries – including the James River shown here – were completed in 2005. | |||
New state water, wastewater regulations affect localities
Two new state regulations promise to have a significant effect on future water and wastewater system operators. Virginia local governments are relying on engineering consultants such as Wiley & Wilson to steer them through this regulatory process.
New rules require all jurisdictions to develop local or regional plans that will be incorporated into a state water supply plan. An accompanying pending regulation will revise the rules for obtaining a Virginia Water Protection Permit (VWPP) for water withdrawals.
“The two rules are a result of approximately 3 1/2 years of stakeholder meetings by a technical advisory committee convened by the state,” said Terry Reid, TAC member from Wiley & Wilson.
The water supply planning regulation requires localities to document all existing water withdrawals and future water supply needs. Plans must include water conservation and drought management. Public participation is required and will facilitate permitting by identifying and addressing issues of concern prior to the often-lengthy permitting process.
When localities begin the construction phase, the “statement of need” and selected alternatives will be an integral part of obtaining the newly revised VWPP. Projects serving regional needs for multiple localities should facilitate permitting. The state will consider the cumulative effects of all existing and proposed withdrawals before issuing a VWPP.
Through this process, the state will be in a position to support local water supply projects that meet all of its requirements when federal 401 and 404 water permits are required by the Corps of Engineers.
While it is potentially costly and burdensome for localities to achieve compliance, financial and technical assistance is available from the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Wiley & Wilson recently provided assistance to two local governments to obtain $100,000 in such grants.
“The plans should reduce time and cost for projects that are ultimately permitted,” said Fred Armstrong, CEO at Wiley & Wilson.
New wastewater regulations requiring nutrient control in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries were completed in 2005. The regulations establish cap allocations for each tributary to the bay and the major wastewater treatment facilities located in the watershed. Plants must be in compliance by 2010 in accordance with an agreement between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and DEQ. This action will remove the bay watershed from the EPA “impaired waters” list. A recent survey by DEQ indicates the cost for 92 projects to install “state-of-the-art” treatment technology in the bay watershed is $1.4 billion.
Last year, the General Assembly augmented the Water Quality Improvement Fund to partially offset the cost to localities. Additional funding is expected to be around $200 million for the next biennium. The grant program pays up to 75 percent of the eligible cost of nutrient controls based on sewer rate affordability criteria. Wiley & Wilson is providing the Town of Orange with wastewater treatment plant designs for plant expansion and regulatory compliance. The firm is also providing assistance with securing WQIF grant funding for several other clients.
In addition, the new nutrient trading program can help localities meet the caps by purchasing credits from other wastewater treatment facilities or non-point source programs, or from the WQIF.
These regulations will encourage localities to find innovative solutions to accommodate growth and increased stormwater in managing development.
Contact: Fred Armstrong PE, 434/947-1629 or Terry Reid, 434/947-1607. Wiley & Wilson, a VML sustaining member, is a full service professional architectural and engineering firm, serving a broad range of clients, with offices in Lynchburg, Richmond and Alexandria. Visit online at www.wileywilson.com.
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