Section 360. Evaluation of project alternatives for surface water withdrawals

The applicant shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the board that the project meets an established need for water to meet the project purpose. In establishing need, the applicant shall provide the following information:

1. Existing supply sources, yields, and demands, including:

a. Peak day and average daily withdrawal;

b. The public water supply safe yield and lowest daily flow of record;

c. Types of water uses; and

d. Existing water conservation measures and drought response plan, including what conditions trigger their implementation.

2. Projected demands over a minimum 30-year planning period, including the following:

a. Projected demand contained in the local or regional water supply plan developed in accordance with 9VAC25-780 or for the project service area, if such area is smaller than the planning area; if applicable or

b. Statistical population (growth) trends; if applicable, projected demands by use type; projected demand without water conservation measures; and projected demands with long-term water conservation measures.

3. Any alternatives analysis conducted specifically for withdrawals for public water supply shall include:

a. The range of alternatives to be analyzed by the applicant as follows:

(1) All applicable alternatives contained in the local or regional water supply plan developed in accordance with 9VAC25-780;

(2) Alternatives that are practicable or feasible from both a technical and economic standpoint that had not been identified in the local or regional water supply plan developed in accordance with 9VAC25-780;

(3) Alternatives that are available to the applicant but not necessarily under the current jurisdiction of the applicant; and

(4) Water conservation measures that could be considered as a means to reduce demand for each alternative considered by the applicant.

b. The applicant shall provide a narrative description that outlines the opportunities and status of regionalization efforts undertaken by the applicant.

c. The criteria used to evaluate each alternative for the purpose of establishing the least environmentally damaging practicable alternative, which includes but is not limited to:

(1) Demonstration that the proposed alternative meets the project purpose and project demonstrated need as documented pursuant to this section;

(2) Availability of the alternative to the applicant;

(3) Evaluation of interconnectivity of water supply systems, both existing and proposed;

(4) Evaluation of the cost of the alternative on an equivalent basis;

(5) Evaluation of alternative public water supply safe yields;

(6) Presence and potential impact of alternative on state and federally listed threatened and endangered species;

(7) Presence and potential impact of alternative on wetlands and streams (based on maps and aerial photos for all alternatives, field delineation required for preferred alternative);

(8) Evaluation of effects on instream flow; and

(9) Water quality considerations, including:

(a) Land use within a watershed where the type of land use may impact the water quality of the source;

(b) The presence of impaired streams and the type of impairment;

(c) The location of point source discharges; and

(d) Potential threats to water quality other than those listed in this subdivision 3 c (9).

4. Any alternatives analysis conducted for surface water withdrawals other than for public water supply shall include the following items of subdivision 3 of this section: subdivisions 3 a (3), 3 a (4), and 3 c. The analysis shall also include applicable items of subdivisions 3 a (1), 3 a (2), and 3 b.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 32, Issue 21, eff. August 2, 2016.

Statutory Authority

§ 62.1-44.15 of the Code of Virginia; § 401 of the Clean Water Act (33 USC § 1251 et seq.).