Caroline County Revised Water Withdrawal Permit

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.

The August 10th draft permit includes the following changes:

• The Permittee’s authorized water withdrawal shall not exceed: 9.0 million gallons per day, 7.0 million gallons per day upon declaration of a drought warning. 6.0 million gallons per day upon declaration of a drought emergency. 
• Revised water withdrawal limits for the proposed intake on the Rappahannock River. 
• Demands associated with industrial cooling water were removed from the total demand projections.
• Establishes drought restrictions to protect beneficial uses upon declaration of a drought within the Northern Coastal Plain drought evaluation region or Caroline County. The permittee shall implement voluntary or mandatory conservation measures under all drought declarations.  
• Requires the Permittee to complete and submit a feasibility study for returning water to the Rappahannock River within five years of permit issuance
• Requires the Permittee to submit a Water Loss Auditing Plan within one year of permit issuance. 
• Requires the Permittee to initiate Water Loss Audits based on the Water Loss Auditing Plan and to submit a comprehensive report of findings
• Requires the Permittee to submit a Water Loss Auditing Report every three years

 Leak Detection and Repair

• Requires the Permittee to submit a Leak Detection Repair Plan within one year of permit issuance. 
• Requires the Permittee to submit a Leak Detection Repair Report every three years

Compensatory Mitigation 

• Established restoration of temporarily impacted wetlands pre- and post-construction. 

Comment Period and Public Hearing 

A written public comment period will occur from August 10 to 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

The public hearing will occur on September 10, 2025, beginning with an information briefing at 5:30 pm. The public hearing location is Caroline County High School, 19155 Rogers Clark Blvd, Milford, VA 22514.

More information (including the draft permit and associated documents) can be found at: https://www.deq.virginia.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/3591/139

Any questions regarding FOR’s position on the matter can be sent to Brent Hunsinger at brent.hunsinger@riverfriends.org