While Virginia is blessed with abundant water resources, episodic periods of drought combined with increasing population have demonstrated the potential and increasing likelihood of water shortages in the future. The protracted litigation over the Lake Gaston pipeline and the King William Reservoir also demonstrates that there are impediments to water supply projects, impacting the ability to alleviate future shortages. To address these issues, the Virginia General Assembly mandated development of a state water supply plan. The development of a sound plan involves addressing natural, legal and political challenges. Mission H2O members joined together to participate and aid in the development of the state plan, as well as other state regulatory and legislative actions impacting water supply.

Like many other issues in Virginia, water rights are subject to the legal constructs dating back to the eighteenth century. The litigious English riparian system, which is still in force today, is ill-suited to dealing with allocation of water among multiple users and the level of confrontation is exacerbated in a crisis. Concerns about inter-basin transfers also pose significant hurdles to getting water where it is needed.

Finally, Virginia has a tension in its soul between its interest in protecting personal property rights, promoting economic development and preserving the environment. We need a better framework to address and balance these issues.

Mission H2O Virginia Coordinator – Andrea Wortzel 

Mission H2O is committed to finding and funding collaborative solutions for managing Virginia’s water supply so that it is safe, reliable and sustainable.