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Caroline farmer Johnny Davis looks over some of the land he plants off U.S. 17, along the Rappahannock. County officials aim to draw more water from the river |
An average of 1 billion gallons of water flow daily on the Rappahannock River past the shores of Caroline County near Port Royal.
Last week, Caroline began the permitting process to withdraw a fraction of that flow--about 4 million gallons a day--that will be delivered to the faucets, showers and toilets of Caroline's water and sewer customers.
There aren't many users for the county water system now--just about 300--but that number is expected to increase exponentially with new development coming to the county.
Caroline is preparing to spend $51.7 million over 25 years to establish water and sewer service to 8,000 new customers in three subdivisions planned in the Ladysmith and Carmel Church areas. The county plans to pay for the improvements through bonds and connection fees.
If Haymount, a fourth subdivision approved in the early 1990s, is built, new customers could total 12,000.
For its current users, the county relies on wells. But Public Works Director Allen Ramsay said it's tough to find a well that produces a lot of water. And a well's life expectancy isn't long, compared to the Rappahannock.
In the river, the county sees a permanent water source for its growing population. Even without the growth, Ramsay said the county would have needed a reliable source.
"We know water's always going to be there," Ramsay said, "unless the Chesapeake Bay dries up."
Haymount, an undeveloped subdivision near Port Royal, could be a likely location for the water's withdrawal.
There, the river's volume is influenced by the bay's tides, not rainfall. That eliminates the risks associated with droughts, Ramsay said.
County supervisors approved last week the engineering contract that begins the more than yearlong process to obtain necessary state and federal permits.
Before those permits are issued, the county has to justify a need for the 4 million gallons it wants to withdraw, said Joe Hassell, an environmental program manager with the state's Department of Environmental Quality.
There shouldn't be any environmental hurdles for Caroline to clear, Hassell said.
But there are questions Caroline has to answer: Where is the water going? Is it coming back to the river, or being treated some other place? And, how salty is the water there?
The water's salinity is a concern to farmers in the area who use the Rappahannock to irrigate the sandy soil near Port Royal. The reason for their concern is simple: They haven't forgotten the 2002 drought.
Johnny Davis, who farms corn near Port Royal, said he's not opposed to the county's plan. But he is keeping an eye on it.
In 2002, irrigation meant the difference between producing 25 and 200 bushels of corn per acre.
If another drought comes, Davis doesn't want to have to stop irrigating because of the county's system.
"I know people have to come first," Davis said. "Who's next in line? Is that me, and my crops? Food is a necessity in life."
Caroline is sensitive to concerns about its plan, Ramsay said.
An environmental impact study will be done as part of the permitting process, so will a cultural impact study--to make sure any work doesn't disturb an old American Indian settlement, for example.
"Caroline," Ramsay said, "is not going to rush in there and stick a pipe in."
To reach ROB DAVIS: 540/374-5418 rdavis@freelancestar.com
