Section 200. Procedure for obtaining a construction permit

Construction permits are issued by the Commissioner, but all requests for a construction permit are directed initially to the Field Office. The procedure for obtaining the permit includes the following steps: (i) the submission of an application, (ii) a preliminary engineering conference, (iii) the submission of an engineer's report (optional at the discretion of the Field Director), and (iv) the submission of plans, specifications, design criteria and other data in the number requested by the Division.

A. An application for a permit shall be submitted by the owner or authorized agent requesting permission to establish, construct, expand, modify, and/or operate a waterworks or water supply. The application shall clearly indicate whether the affected water supply is a community, nontransient noncommunity, or noncommunity waterworks.

B. A preliminary conference with the Division's appropriate District Engineer will be held. The applicant's engineer shall be prepared to set forth the water supply problems and the proposed solution in such a manner as to support his conclusions and recommendations.

C. The engineer's report and preliminary plans for waterworks shall present the following information where applicable:

1. General information - The report shall include:

a. A description of any existing waterworks and sewerage facilities.

b. Identification of the municipality or area served.

c. The name and mailing address of the owner.

2. Extent of waterworks system - The report shall include:

a. A description of the nature and extent of the area to be served.

b. Provisions for extending the waterworks system to include additional areas.

c. An appraisal of the future requirements for service, including existing and potential industrial, commercial, institutional and other water supply needs.

3. Alternate plans - Where two or more solutions exist for providing public water supply facilities, each of which is feasible and practicable, the report shall discuss the alternate plans and give reasons for selecting the one recommended, including financial considerations.

4. Soil, groundwater conditions, and foundation problems - The report shall include:

a. A description of the character of the soil through which water mains are to be laid.

b. A description of foundation conditions prevailing at sites of proposed structures.

c. A description of the approximate elevation of ground water in relation to subsurface structures.

5. Water consumption - The report shall include:

a. A description of the population trends as indicated by available records, and the estimated population which will be served by the proposed water supply system or expanded system.

b. Present and estimated future water consumption values used as the basis of design.

c. Present and estimated future yield of the sources of supply.

6. Fire flow requirements - if fire flows are to be provided, the quantity of fire flow which will be made available by the proposed or enlarged system shall be given.

7. Sewerage system available - Describe the existing system and sewage treatment works, with special reference to its relationship to the existing or proposed waterworks which may affect the operation of the water supply system, or which may affect the quality of the water supply.

8. Source of water supply - Describe the proposed source or sources of water supply to be developed and the reasons for their selection by supplying the following data:

a. Surface water sources

(1) Hydrological data, stream flow, and weather records;

(2) Safe yield, including all factors that may affect it;

(3) Maximum flood flow, together with approval for safety features of spillway and dam from appropriate reviewing authority;

(4) Summarized quality of raw water with special references to fluctuation in quality, changing meteorological conditions, sources of contamination, measures to protect the watershed, etc.

b. Groundwater sources

(1) Sites considered,

(2) Advantages of site selected,

(3) Elevation with respect to surroundings and 100-year flood,

(4) Probable character of geological formations through which source is to be developed,

(5) Unusual geological conditions affecting site,

(6) Summary of source exploration, test well depth and method of construction, placement of liners or screens; pumping test, hours, capacity; water level and specified yield, water quality,

(7) Possible sources of contamination.

9. Proposed treatment processes - Summarize and establish the adequacy of proposed processes for the treatment of the specified water under consideration (pilot studies may be required).

10. Waste disposal - Discuss the various wastes from the water treatment plant, their volume, proposed treatment and points for discharge.

11. Automatic equipment - Provide supporting data justifying automatic equipment, including servicing.

12. Project sites - The report shall include:

a. A discussion on various sites considered and advantages of the recommended one,

b. A description of the proximity of residences, industries, and other establishments,

c. The location of potential sources of pollution that may influence the quality of the supply or interfere with the effective operation of the waterworks system, such as sewage absorption systems, septic tanks, privies, cesspools, sink holes, sanitary landfills, petroleum storage tanks, etc.

13. Financing - The report shall state:

a. The estimated cost of integral parts of the system,

b. The detailed estimated annual cost of operation,

c. The proposed method of financing, both capital charges and operating expenses.

14. Future extensions - Summarize planning for future needs and service.

D. Plans for waterworks improvements shall provide the following:

1. A general layout which includes:

a. Suitable title, to include name of waterworks,

b. Name of owner of waterworks,

c. Area or institution to be served,

d. Scale, in feet,

e. North Point,

f. Datum used,

g. Boundaries of the municipality or area to be served,

h. Date, address, and name of designing engineer,

i. Imprint of professional engineer's seal ( see 12VAC5-590-220),

j. Legible prints suitable for microfilming, with size not to exceed 30 inches by 42 inches,

k. Location and size of existing water mains,

l. Location and nature of existing waterworks structures and appurtenances affecting the proposed improvements noted on one sheet.

2. Detailed plans which include where applicable:

a. Stream crossings, providing profiles with elevations of the stream bed and the normal and extreme high and low water levels,

b. Profiles having a horizontal scale of not more than 100 feet to the inch and a vertical scale of not more than 10 feet to the inch, with both scales clearly indicated,

c. Location and size of the property to be used for the groundwater development with respect to known references such as street intersections or section lines,

d. Topography and arrangement of present or planned wells or structures, with contour intervals not greater than two feet,

e. Elevation of highest known flood level, floor of structure, upper terminal of protective casing, and outside surrounding grade, using United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, United States Geological Survey, or equivalent elevations where applicable as reference,

f. Schematic drawing of well construction, showing diameter and depth of drillholes, casing and liner diameters and depths, grouting depths, elevations and designation of geological formation, water levels, and other details to describe the proposed well completely,

g. Location of all sources of pollution within 250 feet (or further, depending upon aquifer type and recharge area) of drilled wells, 100 feet of treated water storage facilities, five miles upstream from surface water intakes, and the entire drainage area of springs;

h. Size, length, identity and location or sewers, drains, water mains, and plant structures,

i. Schematic flow diagrams and hydraulic profiles showing the flow through various plant units,

j. Piping in sufficient detail to show flow through plant, including waste lines,

k. Location of all chemical feeding equipment and points of chemical application,

l. All appurtenances, specific structures, equipment, water treatment plant waste disposal units and point of discharge having any relationship to the plans for water mains and/or waterworks structures,

m. Location of sanitary or other facilities such as lavatories, showers, toilets, and lockers,

n. Location, dimensions and elevations of all proposed plant facilities,

o. Adequate description of all features not otherwise covered by the specifications.

E. Complete, detailed, technical specifications shall be supplied for the proposed project which include where applicable:

1. A program for keeping existing waterworks facilities in operation during construction of additional facilities so as to minimize interruption of service,

2. Laboratory facilities and equipment, as well as sampling taps and their locations,

3. Number and design of treatment process components,

4. Materials or proprietary equipment for sanitary or other facilities including any necessary backflow or backsiphonage protection,

5. Workmanship,

6. Other equipment.

F. A summary of complete design criteria shall be submitted for the proposed project, containing but not limited to the following where applicable:

1. Yield of source of supply,

2. Reservoir surface area,

3. Area of watershed,

4. Estimated water consumption,

5. Number of proposed services,

6. Fire-fighting requirements,

7. Basin capacities,

8. Retention times,

9. Unit loadings,

10. Filter area and proposed filtration rate,

11. Backwash rate,

12. Feeder capacities and ranges.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR355-18-003.15 § 1.21, eff. August 1, 1991; amended, Volume 09, Issue 17, eff. June 23, 1993.

Statutory Authority

§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-170 of the Code of Virginia.