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Virginia Administrative Code
Title 9. Environment
Agency 25. State Water Control Board
Chapter 780. Local and Regional Water Supply Planning
12/21/2024

9VAC25-780-120. Drought response and contingency plans.

A. Each local government with the regional planning area that contains within its geographic jurisdiction community water systems and self-supplied users who withdraw more than an average of 300,000 gallons in any month of surface water and groundwater shall develop a drought response and contingency plan that contains the following:

1. Drought response and contingency plans shall address the unique characteristics of the water source that is being utilized and the nature of the beneficial use of water. Direct stream intakes shall consider the lowest flow of record and reservoirs shall consider available usable storage to the extent practicable.

2. Drought response and contingency plans shall contain, at a minimum, the following three graduated stages of responses to the onset of drought conditions:

a. Each drought stage shall have specific triggers designed to address the particular vulnerabilities of each water source.

b. Drought watch stage responses are responses that are intended to increase awareness in the public and private sector to climatic conditions that are likely to precede the occurrence of a significant drought event. Public outreach activities shall be identified to inform the population served by a community water system of the potential for drought conditions to intensify and potential water conservation activities that may be utilized.

c. Drought warning stage responses are responses that are required when the onset of a significant drought event is imminent. Voluntary water conservation activities shall be identified with the goal of reducing water use by 5-10%.

d. Drought emergency stage responses are responses that are required during the height of a significant drought event. Mandatory water conservation activities shall be identified with the goal of reducing water use by 10-15%.

3. Drought response and contingency plans shall include references to local ordinances, if adopted, and procedures for the implementation and enforcement of drought response and contingency plans.

B. If there is a conflict between subsection A of this section and any condition of a permit issued by the department, a drought response and contingency plan shall conform to the permit and, to the extent practicable and consistent with the permit, subsection A of this section.

C. Each regional planning area, to the extent practicable, shall evaluate the feasibility of developing a regional drought response and contingency plan as part of the regional water supply plan. If a regional drought contingency and response plan is developed, it shall include all of the elements identified in the subsection A of this section. Any local government that utilizes the Potomac River through any portion of their service area as a water supply source shall incorporate the provisions of the Metropolitan Washington Water Supply and Drought Awareness Response Plan: Potomac River System (2000), including provisions related to triggers, actions, and messages for the Potomac River drought evaluation region.

D. If a regional drought response and contingency plan is not feasible, the regional water supply plan shall include a summary description of any cross-jurisdictional coordination efforts on drought response.

Statutory Authority

§§ 62.1-44.15 and 62.1-44.38:1 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 22, Issue 2, eff. November 2, 2005; amended, Virginia Register Volume 41, Issue 2, eff. October 9, 2024.

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