Groundwater supply in western Loudoun and Fauquier Counties; DEQ to study threats and challenges.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text does not provide details on future regulations or restrictions.

Study Groundwater in Western Loudoun and Fauquier Counties

This bill requires the Department of Environmental Quality to study threats and challenges to groundwater supply in western Loudoun and Fauquier counties, provide data on current and future trends, and report findings by December 31, 2026.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to study threats and challenges to groundwater in western Loudoun and Fauquier counties.
• Includes providing historical and current data on groundwater levels and quality.
• Involves making future projections for groundwater trends.
• Evaluates potential impacts from increased water withdrawals.
• Considers whether a groundwater management area should be established.

Who It Names or Affects

• The Department of Environmental Quality
• Residents in western Loudoun and Fauquier counties

Terms To Know

Groundwater Management Area

A designated area where special rules apply to protect groundwater resources.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what actions will be taken based on the report's findings.
• It is unclear how much funding will be provided for this study.

Official Summary Text

Study; Department of Environmental Quality; groundwater supply in western Loudoun and Fauquier Counties; report.
Directs the Department of Environmental Quality to study the threats and challenges to the groundwater supply in western Loudoun and Fauquier Counties, to complete its meetings by November 30, 2026, and to report its findings and recommendations to the Chairs of the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources no later than December 31, 2026.

Current Bill Text

A BILL to direct the Department of Environmental Quality to study the threats and challenges to the groundwater supply in western Loudoun and Fauquier Counties; report.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.
§ 1.
That the Department o
f Environmental Quality
(
the
Dep
artment)
shall study the
threats and challenges
to the groundwater supply in western Loudo
u
n and Fauquier Counties.
In conducting
such study,
the Department shall (i) provide historical and current data and trends relating to groundwater levels
and groundwater quality
;
(ii) include future projections for groundwater levels and groundwater quality
;
(iii) evaluate potential future impacts to the groundwater supply as a result of increasing groundwater withdrawals
;
(iv) evaluate whether
a groundwater management area should be established for the
region
pursuant to
Chapter 25 (§
62.1-254
et seq.) of Title 62.1 of the Code of Virginia
;
and (v)
recommend
any
statutory or regulator
y
restrictions
to ensure that future development in
the region
does not endanger
the health and safety of the region's residents nor the water needs of existing
commercial enterprises.
Technical assistance shall be provided to the Department by the State Water Control Board. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Department for this study, upon request.
The Department shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2026, and shall submit to the
C
hairs of the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
a report of its findings and recommendations
no later than December 31, 2026.