Virginia Law

A. Duty to apply. Any person who withdraws surface water or proposes to withdraw surface water in a surface water management area must have a surface water withdrawal permit, except persons excluded under subsection B of this section or exempted under subsection C of this section, or withdrawals made pursuant to a voluntary agreement approved by the department pursuant to 9VAC25-220-60. A complete application shall be submitted to the department in accordance with this section.

B. Exclusions. The following do not require a surface water withdrawal permit but may require other permits under state and federal law:

1. Any nonconsumptive use;

2. Any water withdrawal of less than 300,000 gallons in any single month;

3. Any water withdrawal from a farm pond collecting diffuse surface water and not situated on a perennial stream as defined in the United States Geological Survey 7.5-minute series topographic maps;

4. Any withdrawal in any area which has not been declared a surface water management area; and

5. Any withdrawal from a wastewater treatment system permitted by the Department of Environmental Quality or the Department of Energy.

C. Exemptions. The following do not require a surface water withdrawal permit but may require other permits under state and federal law. However, the following do require a surface water withdrawal certificate containing details of a department approved water conservation or management plan as found in subdivision 2 of 9VAC25-220-100 and Part V (9VAC25-220-250 et seq.) of this chapter. It is not the intent or purpose of this certification program to affect the withdrawal of water approved by the department.

1. No political subdivision or investor-owned water company permitted by the Department of Health shall be required to obtain a surface water withdrawal permit for:

a. Any withdrawal in existence on July 1, 1989; however, a permit shall be required in a declared surface water management area before the daily rate of any such existing withdrawal is increased beyond the maximum daily withdrawal made before July 1, 1989.

b. Any withdrawal not in existence on July 1, 1989, if the person proposing to make the withdrawal has received, by that date, a § 401 certification from the State Water Control Board pursuant to the requirements of the Clean Water Act to install any necessary withdrawal structures and make such withdrawal; however, a permit shall be required in any surface water management area before any such withdrawal is increased beyond the amount authorized by the said certification.

c. Any withdrawal in existence on July 1, 1989, from an instream impoundment of water used for public water supply purposes; however, during periods when permit conditions in a water management area are in force pursuant to subsection G of 9VAC25-220-80 and 9VAC25-220-190, and when the rate of flow of natural surface water into the impoundment is equal to or less than the average flow of natural surface water at that location, the department may require release of water from the impoundment at a rate not exceeding the existing rate of flow of natural surface water into the impoundment. Withdrawals by a political subdivision or investor-owned water company permitted by the Department of Health shall be affected by this subdivision only at the option of that political subdivision or investor-owned water company.

2. No existing beneficial consumptive user shall be required to obtain a surface water withdrawal permit for:

a. Any withdrawal in existence on July 1, 1989; however, a permit shall be required in a declared surface water management area before the daily rate of any such existing withdrawal is increased beyond the maximum daily withdrawal made before July 1, 1989; and

b. Any withdrawal not in existence on July 1, 1989, if the person proposing to make the withdrawal has received, by that date, a § 401 certification from the State Water Control Board pursuant to the requirements of the Clean Water Act to install any necessary withdrawal structures and make such withdrawals; however, a permit shall be required in any surface water management area before any such withdrawal is increased beyond the amount authorized by the said certification.

D. Duty to reapply.

1. Any permittee with an effective permit shall submit a new permit application at least 180 days before the expiration date of an effective permit unless permission for a later date has been granted by the department.

2. Owners or persons who have effective permits shall submit a new application 180 days prior to any proposed modification to their activity which will:

a. Result in a significantly new or substantially increased water withdrawal; or

b. Violate or lead to the violation of the terms and conditions of the permit.

E. Complete application required.

1. Any person proposing to withdraw water shall submit a complete application and secure a permit prior to the date planned for commencement of the activity resulting in the withdrawal. There shall be no water withdrawal prior to the issuance of a permit.

2. Any person reapplying to withdraw water shall submit a complete application.

3. A complete surface water withdrawal permit application to the department shall, as a minimum, consist of the following:

a. The location of the water withdrawal, including the name of the waterbody from which the withdrawal is being made;

b. The average daily withdrawal, the maximum proposed withdrawal, and any variations of the withdrawal by season including amounts and times of the day or year during which withdrawals may occur;

c. The use for the withdrawal, including the importance of the need for this use;

d. Any alternative water supplies or water storage; and

e. If it is determined that special studies are needed to develop a proper instream flow requirement, then additional information may be necessary.

4. Where an application is considered incomplete, the department may require the submission of additional information after an application has been filed and may suspend processing of any application until such time as the applicant has supplied missing or deficient information and the department considers the application complete. Further, where the applicant becomes aware that he omitted one or more relevant facts from a permit application, or submitted incorrect information in a permit application or in any report to the department, he shall immediately submit such facts or the correct information.

5. Any person proposing to withdraw water shall submit an application for a permit 180 days prior to the date planned for commencement of the activity resulting in the withdrawal. There shall be no water withdrawal prior to the issuance of a permit.

6. Any person with an existing unpermitted water withdrawal operation shall submit an application immediately upon discovery by the owner or within 30 days upon being requested to by the department whichever comes first.

F. Informational requirements. All applicants for a surface water withdrawal permit shall provide all such information consistent with this chapter as the department deems necessary. All applicants for a permit must submit a complete permit application in accordance with subsection A of this section.