This is the first installment in a series of monthly updates from James City County’s County Administrator Bryan Hill. – Ed.
During the past three years, James City County has embarked on a campaign to secure an alternative water source as the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality requested a groundwater permit at 3.8 million gallons per day, which represented a 60 percent reduction.
The County Administrator, General Manager and Chief Water Engineer of the James City Service Authority (JCSA) were appointed to the Eastern Virginia Groundwater Management Advisory Committee (EVGMA) for more than two years to ensure a solution is available for the 55,000 customers of the JCSA.
The current rate structure of the JCSA is the 16th lowest out of 17 providers in Hampton Roads for water and sewer with treatment provided by Hampton Roads Sanitation District, low cost and quality water is the primary focus.
Conservation of water has been one of our public requests during the past three years as we developed our plan.
Presently, the JCSA has a tiered permit up to a yearly average of 8.4mgd which fluctuates on population growth and weather. Our demand in the month of July peaked to over 9.3 million gallons per day while our overall yearly average is 5.5 million gallons per day.
Alternative water sources are projected for implementation by 2030 as population and consumption increase.
The Board of Supervisors has adopted a strategic plan that provides a blue print for the future with one of their seven goals is to provide a fiscally efficient debt reduction plan allowing for an affordable alternative water source solution.
The JCSA will finalize a Joint Permit application for surface water later this month. Once secured by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Virginia Marine Resources Commission and the Army Corp of Engineers, four options will be provided to the board of supervisors for their consideration by FY 2019.
Submitted by Bryan Hill
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