JCC Supes Approve Regional Water Plan

By Desiree Parker Wednesday, September 28, 2011

James City County supervisors voted to approve a regional water supply plan Tuesday, with the assurance to objecting citizens that the county will still use its own judgment when it comes to local water supply issues.

Due to new state requirements, the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC) drafted a regional water supply plan through the next several decades that includes current and estimated future water needs for Hampton Roads localities along with suggestions on coping with future shortages. Read more about the plan here. Localities in Hampton Roads (including James City County) agreed to offer up a joint plan to the state instead of drafting individual plans.

The board voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the plan, but highlighted that the county plans for its own water usage independently and will continue to do so using county-specific information. Staff also pointed out that the regional plan must be updated every five years and will reflect changes in population and demand as needed.

Some citizens voiced their objections to various parts of the plan. Objections centered on the higher water efficiencies in residential and business use that have dropped water demand in recent years; localities in the area with less room to grow and therefore less population growth in the future; and doubts about HRPDC projection methods in general that at least one speaker felt led to the scrapping of the King William Reservoir project.

Retired physicist and York County resident Don Phillips reiterated his concerns to the Board at their meeting. He showed the board a chart indicating that water demand in James City County has leveled off over the last several years due to efficiencies in residences and businesses. He also argued that population growth has slowed in areas around James City County that are nearly built out, meaning less water demand across the region.

Phillips argued the computer model used by the HRPDC was too simple and gave flawed data.

Kelly Place, representing the Coastal Virginia Waterman’s Association, argued HRPDC projections have been “grievously erroneous” in the past, specifically with the King William Reservoir project. He also cited several instances in which he felt that Newport News projections and data had shown significant errors and said he had concerns that the “same errors in methodology are being used in this plan.”

James City County Service Authority General manager Larry Foster explained to the board that all the utility managers in the region oversaw the water supply planning process.

He pointed out the plan needs to be complete by November 1, and he confirmed that the population projections used were from the HRPDC but that the HRPDC projections were slightly lower than those available in the county’s Comprehensive Plan.

Supervisor John McGlennon asked that the meeting record indicate that the county will not substitute the regional plan for the county’s decision-making when it comes to future water supply needs, a sentiment Supervisor Bruce Goodson shared.

Supervisor Jim Icenhour said he had concerns about the demand forecasting methodology, but that it was important to have a “safety factor” and possibly estimate on the conservative side so the county doesn’t “make a serious mistake underestimating what we need.”

Supervisor Jim Kennedy voiced concerns about the money the county spent on the Newport News water agreement and cautioned the board it needed to look at the issue more carefully when the county looks at its contract for water with Newport News again in the future.

Chairman Mary Jones pointed out that the plan “is more like a Hampton Roads information document as opposed to a plan,” and that the board looks at water demand trends at every JCSA board meeting.