During a recent meeting of the Eastern Shore of Virginia Groundwater Committee, concerns about saltwater intrusion and over-pumping of the lower aquifer came to the forefront, prompting discussions on the sustainability of current water usage practices.
Britt McMillan, the A-NPDC groundwater consultant, acknowledged the presence of saltwater intrusion and the over-pumping of the lower aquifer. McMillan’s admission shed light on the severity of the situation, indicating a need for proactive measures to address the issue.
Groundwater Committee member Sue Mastyl attempted to downplay the significance of the problem, emphasizing that the actual rates of groundwater withdrawal by agricultural and other users were not exceeding permitted rates. However, McMillan countered this argument by citing the recent denial of Perdue’s groundwater withdrawal permit renewal due to exceeding the maximum allowable withdrawal limit of 80% drawdown of the lower aquifer. This marked the first instance in the history of groundwater withdrawals that such action was taken against a permit holder.
Furthermore, McMillan highlighted that communities like Silver Beach and Vaucluse Shores were encountering difficulties drilling wells deeper than 30 feet due to saltwater intrusion, underscoring the immediate challenges faced by local water sources.
Reflecting on his experience as an appointed official in Rensselaer County, NY, citizen Ken Dufty commented on the importance of applying the precautionary principle in environmental decision-making. This principle advocates for erring on the side of caution when potential negative impacts on the environment or public health are at stake. Until permits issued by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) are modified to prioritize public consumption over agricultural irrigation, concerns about the sustainability of water resources remain paramount.
The discrepancy between groundwater withdrawal rates and natural recharge rates, as highlighted by USGS figures, poses a significant threat to the long-term viability of water resources in the region.
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How long have we been reading about this now?
Seems like a long time to me, anyway.
TALK, TALK, TALK, and no action and WHOOPS, we now got saltwater intrusion, which is exactly what the discussion has been about all these years – HOW TO PREVENT IT!
Well, looks like the pasture fence is down now, and the cattle herd is just dust on the horizon!
How stupid and short-sighted, just like what we have in Washington, DC!
Thank you for publishing this report on the meeting. I am alarmed that anyone who is responsible would confuse what is allowed by the permitted rates with what is sensible based on the aquifer levels.
It is discouraging to read that the DEQ prioritizes irrigation over public consumption. This is a finite resource. What are we going to do if they use it up, truck in our water? Or build desalination plants? It would be a bad place to own property if that happens.
I am new to the ESVA, and realize I need to educate myself about this.