DEQ’s Office of Water Withdrawal Permitting staff process permit applications and conduct compliance activities for groundwater and surface water withdrawal permits following the statutes and regulations described below:

Groundwater Withdrawal Permitting

Under the Ground Water Management Act of 1992 and the Groundwater Withdrawal Regulations, Virginia manages groundwater through a program regulating the withdrawals of groundwater in certain designed areas called Groundwater Management Areas (GWMA). Currently, there are two Groundwater Management Areas in the state. The Eastern Virginia Groundwater Management Area encompasses the counties of Charles City, Essex, Gloucester, Isle of Wight, James City, King George, King and Queen, King William, Lancaster, Mathews, Middlesex, New Kent, Northumberland, Prince George, Richmond, Southampton, Surry, Sussex, Westmoreland, and York; the areas of Caroline, Chesterfield, Fairfax, Hanover, Henrico, Prince William, Spotsylvania, and Stafford counties east of Interstate 95; and the cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Hampton, Hopewell, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, and Williamsburg. The Eastern Shore Groundwater Management Area encompasses the counties of Accomack and Northampton. Any person or entity located within a declared GWMA must obtain a permit to withdraw 300,000 gallons or more of groundwater in any one month.

Surface Water Withdrawal Permitting

Projects involving surface water withdrawals from state waters and related permanent structures require permits under the Virginia Water Protection (VWP) Permit Program Regulations as directed by Article 2.2 of the State Water Control Law unless excluded under 9 VAC 25-210-310. DEQ issues VWP Individual permits for such impacts through use of the Joint Permit Application process. Permitting for projects that impact state waters, but do not include a surface water withdrawal component, is coordinated by DEQ’s Office of Wetlands and Stream Protection.

Drinking Water Management

The Virginia Department of Health Office of Drinking Water enforces drinking water regulations and standards of the Virginia Public Water Supply Law and the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.