Virginia Administrative Code › Title 9 - ENVIRONMENT › Agency 25 - STATE WATER CONTROL BOARD › Chapter 610 - VIRGINIA POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (VPDES) PERMIT REGULATION › Part III - Permit Application and Issuance › Section 9VAC25-610-100 - Water conservation and management plans

Current through Register Vol. 40, No. 24, July 15, 2024
A. Any
				  application to initiate a new withdrawal or expand an existing withdrawal in
				  any groundwater management area or the reapplication at the end of a permit
				  cycle for all permits shall require a water conservation and management plan
				  before the application or reapplication is considered complete. The department
				  shall review all water conservation and management plans and assure that such
				  plans contain all elements required in subsection B of this section. The
				  approved plan shall become an enforceable part of the approved
				  permit.
B. A water conservation and
				  management plan is an operational plan to be referenced and implemented by the
				  permittee. Water conservation and management plans shall be consistent with
				  local and regional water supply plans in the applicant's geographic area
				  developed as required by 9VAC25-780. The water conservation and management plan
				  shall be specific to the type of water use and include the following:
1. For municipal and nonmunicipal public
				  water supplies:
a. Where practicable, the plan
				  should require use of water-saving equipment and processes for all water users
				  including technological, procedural, or programmatic improvements to the
				  facilities and processes to decrease the amount of water withdrawn or to
				  decrease water demand. The goal of these requirements is to assure the most
				  efficient use of groundwater. Information on the water-saving alternatives
				  examined and the water savings associated with the alternatives shall be
				  provided. Water conservation and management plans shall discuss high volume
				  water consumption by users on the system and where conservation measures have
				  previously been implemented and shall be applied. Also, where appropriate, the
				  use of water-saving fixtures in new and renovated plumbing as provided in the
				  Uniform Statewide Building Code (13VAC5-63) shall be identified in the
				  plan;
b. A water loss reduction
				  program, which defines the applicant's leak detection and repair program. The
				  water loss reduction program shall include requirements for an audit of the
				  total amount of groundwater used in the distribution system and operational
				  processes during the first two years of the permit cycle. Implementation of a
				  leak detection and repair program shall be required within one year of the date
				  the permit is issued. The program shall include a schedule for inspection of
				  equipment and piping for leaks;
c.
				  A water use education program that contains requirements for the education of
				  water users and training of employees controlling water consuming processes to
				  assure that water conservation principles are well known by the users of the
				  resource. The program shall include a schedule for information distribution and
				  the type of materials used;
d. An
				  evaluation of water reuse options and assurances that water shall be reused in
				  all instances where reuse is practicable. Potential for expansion of the
				  existing reuse practices or adoption of additional reuse practices shall also
				  be included; and
e. Requirements
				  for mandatory water use reductions during water shortage emergencies declared
				  by the local governing body or water authority consistent with §§
				  15.2-923 and 15.2-924 of the Code of Virginia. This shall include, where
				  appropriate, ordinances in municipal systems prohibiting the waste of water
				  generally and requirements providing for mandatory water use restrictions in
				  accordance with drought response and contingency ordinances implemented to
				  comply with
				  9VAC25-780-120
				  during water shortage emergencies. The water conservation and management plan
				  shall also contain requirements for mandatory water use restrictions during
				  water shortage emergencies that restricts or prohibits all nonessential uses
				  such as lawn watering, car washing, and similar nonessential residential,
				  industrial, and commercial uses for the duration of the water shortage
				  emergency. Penalties for failure to comply with mandatory water use
				  restrictions shall be included in municipal system plans.