Advocacy Alert: Caroline County Water Withdrawal

News > Advocacy > Data Centers > Advocacy Alert: Caroline County Water Withdrawal

Aug 27, 2025 | Advocacy, Data Centers

Advocacy Alert: Revised Caroline County Water Withdrawal Permit

As we shared earlier this month the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has released a revised draft permit (VWPP No. 20-0514) that will authorize the Caroline County Public Utility to withdrawal water from the Rappahannock River in Caroline County, VA to serve as a public water supply for Caroline County, Town of Bowling Green, and the Town of Port Royal.The permit includes a new 9.0 million-gallon-per-day water withdrawal intake structure located on the south bank of the Rappahannock River, a raw water pump station, associated infrastructure, and approximately 35 miles of water line for the transfer of raw water from the intake to the proposed water treatment plant located in the vicinity of Carmel Church, VA.

View the Draft Permit & Associated Documents & more

Map outlining the position of the water intake facility, the water pipeline, and the treatment plant.

(Photos provided by Caroline County)

Amended for the better, FOR still has concerns

While the draft permit has been amended for the better, FOR remains concerned about the proposed major interbasin transfer of water and a lack of incorporation of future conditions in the updated May 20, 2025, Rappahannock River Hydrologic and Salinity Analysis.

In the May 20, 2025, Rappahannock River Hydrologic and Salinity Analysis, there is mention that “Natural flows in the Rappahannock River at the proposed intake location are influenced by existing water supply operations and wastewater discharges. Several municipal withdrawals and discharges are located upstream of the proposed intake location, including those owned and operated by the City of Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania County, and Stafford County. Discharges from the City of Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania County, and Stafford County wastewater treatment plants occur downstream of the Rappahannock River USGS Gauge No. 01668000; wastewater return flows were estimated at approximately 27.4 cfs (17.7 Mgal/d) on average and were added to the non-tidal river gauge flows at the fall line.”

The analysis does not mention or seem to account for the flows from those wastewater treatment plants being reduced due to the future reuse of wastewater to cool data centers. Spotsylvania County’s Massaponax Wastewater Treatment Plant wastewater has been fully allocated to be reused for the cooling of data centers. Pending an approved water and wastewater services agreement, the Fredericksburg wastewater treatment plant’s wastewater will be used to cool data centers located in its recently approved Technology Overlay District. The wastewater from Little Falls Wastewater Treatment Plant in Stafford County could be used to cool proposed data center projects along Route 3.

This real and potential loss of flows from the wastewater treatment plants into the Rappahannock River should have been included as part of the future conditions considerations in the Analysis.

Major Interbasin Transfer of Water from the Rappahannock to the Mattaponi

The proposed water withdrawal would entail an interbasin transfer of withdrawals from the Rappahannock River to the Mattaponi River via two existing wastewater treatment plants discharging to the York River Basin.

The proposed intake would be located on the south bank of the Rappahannock River along Route 17. The proposed raw water pipeline connecting the intake to the proposed water treatment plant (WTP) is estimated to be 35 miles in length, starting at the intake and located along the rights-of-way of Route 17, Route 301 (AP Hill Boulevard), Route 207, and ending at the proposed WTP location on Gravel Hill Road off of Route 1.

One of the conditions of the draft permit requires Caroline County to complete and submit a feasibility study for returning water to the Rappahannock River within five years of permit issuance. FOR believes this feasibility study should be completed before the permit is issued.

So what can YOU do?

First, consider submitting a written comment to DEQ.

A written public comment period is currently available from now until September 25, 2025. DEQ accepts written comments by hand delivery, e-mail, or postal mail. All comments must be in writing and be received by DEQ during the comment period. All written comments should be addressed to Allison Major. Her email is allison.major@deq.virginia.gov

More information (including the draft permit and associated documents) can be found at the link below.

View the Draft Permit & Associated Documents & more

Attend the public hearing on September 10th, 2025. The public hearing will be held at Caroline County High School (19155 Rogers Clark Blvd, Milford, VA 22514). There is an informational briefing starting at 5:30.

Another way you can support this advocacy effort is by sharing our content regarding this water withdrawal permit. Our dedicated advocacy staff spends significant time putting together the information in a cohesive, understandable manner for Rappahannock River constituents.

Friends with the Rappahannock is constantly working with partners, lawmakers, and scientists to help advise the best decisions for our watershed. If you have any questions regarding this advocacy effort, please email our FOR Advocacy and Coastal Programs Director, Brent Hunsinger at brent.hunsinger@riverfriends.org

If you appreciate the work Friends of the Rappahannock is doing to protect and restore our river, please make a gift today. Every contribution makes a difference, and we’re grateful for your support.

Donate Today