3 Old Dominion University Lake Gaston Project Field Trip November 1, 2014 Thomas M. Leahy, P.E. Director of Public Utilities

North Carolina & Virginia Discharge 15 inches/yr Discharge 15 inches/yr No structural water shortages except in the coastal plain No structural water shortages except in the coastal plain In the coastal plain, topography and wetlands preclude new reservoirs In the coastal plain, topography and wetlands preclude new reservoirs Coastal plain aquifers are over-stressed Coastal plain aquifers are over-stressed SE Virginia is a major metropolitan region in the coastal plain – much of water is interbasin transfer SE Virginia is a major metropolitan region in the coastal plain – much of water is interbasin transfer

The City of Virginia Beach, VA Virginia Beach is the largest City in the state, but it had no water supply Virginia Beach is the largest City in the state, but it had no water supply Dependent upon Norfolk for surplus supply Dependent upon Norfolk for surplus supply Surplus was in adequate since 1976 Surplus was in adequate since 1976 The City restricted water often, including five consecutive years: The City restricted water often, including five consecutive years: In 1982, Virginia Beach decided to pursue the Lake Gaston Water Transfer In 1982, Virginia Beach decided to pursue the Lake Gaston Water Transfer

The Lake Gaston Water Transfer 60 MGD from the Roanoke River Basin

The Lake Gaston Water Transfer 76 mile, 60-inch Diameter Pipeline

The Lake Gaston Water Transfer: Roanoke River Basin to Virginia Beach Average flow in Roanoke River – 8,000 cfs Average flow in Roanoke River – 8,000 cfs Lowest monthly and yearly flow (regulated by upstream dams)– 2,000 cfs Lowest monthly and yearly flow (regulated by upstream dams)– 2,000 cfs 60 mgd (93 cfs) is 4.7% of drought flows 60 mgd (93 cfs) is 4.7% of drought flows Transfer does not reduce minimum daily flows which are regulated by mandated releases from downstream dams Transfer does not reduce minimum daily flows which are regulated by mandated releases from downstream dams Transfer does increase the duration of low flows during drought periods Transfer does increase the duration of low flows during drought periods

Permits for Water Projects Federal Permits Federal Permits Corps of Engineers: Rivers and Harbors Act and Clean Water Act Corps of Engineers: Rivers and Harbors Act and Clean Water Act Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Coastal Zone Management Act (NOAA) Coastal Zone Management Act (NOAA) State Permits State Permits DEQ: Clean Water Act 401 Certification DEQ: Clean Water Act 401 Certification DEQ: VA Water Protection Permit (instream flow) DEQ: VA Water Protection Permit (instream flow) DEQ: NPDES/VPDES DEQ: NPDES/VPDES Local Permits (Zoning, CUP, Local Consent) Local Permits (Zoning, CUP, Local Consent)

National Environmental Policy Act - NEPA Any agency with approval jurisdiction must conduct public interest/environmental review Any agency with approval jurisdiction must conduct public interest/environmental review If the Environmental Assessment (EA) results in a FONSI – then approval may issue If the Environmental Assessment (EA) results in a FONSI – then approval may issue If the project might harm the human or natural environment, a more detailed Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) including an analysis of need and alternatives will be prepared If the project might harm the human or natural environment, a more detailed Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) including an analysis of need and alternatives will be prepared If the EIS concludes that the project is not needed, there is a better alternative, or has unacceptable impacts, the agency can reject or modify the applicant’s proposal If the EIS concludes that the project is not needed, there is a better alternative, or has unacceptable impacts, the agency can reject or modify the applicant’s proposal

VA Beach Evaluation of Alternatives New reservoirs: Would not pass the environmental reviews – wetlands, irreversible habitat losses, etc New reservoirs: Would not pass the environmental reviews – wetlands, irreversible habitat losses, etc Particularly in the Coastal Plain Particularly in the Coastal Plain Regional Groundwater Aquifer: could not provide sufficient quantities long-term Regional Groundwater Aquifer: could not provide sufficient quantities long-term Seawater Desalting: Too expensive (at that time) Seawater Desalting: Too expensive (at that time) Wastewater Reuse: Not feasible (at that time) Wastewater Reuse: Not feasible (at that time) Alternatives to the Gaston pipeline were the subject of extensive regulatory and legal debate Alternatives to the Gaston pipeline were the subject of extensive regulatory and legal debate History supports regulatory decisions at that time, but if project were attempted today, desalting and/or potable reuse would be more viable History supports regulatory decisions at that time, but if project were attempted today, desalting and/or potable reuse would be more viable

Lake Gaston Project Permits and Environmental Studies Corps of Engineers, FERC, NOAA Corps of Engineers, FERC, NOAA 1983 – 1995: Three EA’s, two EIS’, one CZMA Review (similar to EIS) 1983 – 1995: Three EA’s, two EIS’, one CZMA Review (similar to EIS) Three District Court rulings, two Appellate Court rulings, two refusals by Supreme Court to grant an appeal Three District Court rulings, two Appellate Court rulings, two refusals by Supreme Court to grant an appeal Every study and every ruling upheld the need for the project and that the project was the best overall alternative – but took 15 years Every study and every ruling upheld the need for the project and that the project was the best overall alternative – but took 15 years

Cost of Lake Gaston Water Transfer vs Desalination SourceDate LG Water Transfer Seawater Desalination Desal/LG Ratio US Army Corps of Engineers 1984$1.26/kgal$3.90/kgal3.1 Virginia Beach 1986$1.16/kgal$3.83/kgal3.2 Federal Regulatory Energy Commission 1995 $1.153 B 50-yr NPV 50-yr NPV $3.673 B 50-yr NPV 50-yr NPV3.2 Virginia Beach 1998$2.79/kgal$5.69/kgal2.0 Virginia Beach Consultant 2004 $307 M 25-yr NPV $632 M 25-yr NPV 2.1

But the times, they are a’changing Gaston Water: $ $3:00/1000 gallons Gaston Water: $ $3:00/1000 gallons Seawater Desalination Seawater Desalination Carlsbad/San Diego: 50 mgd, $6.00/1000 gallons Carlsbad/San Diego: 50 mgd, $6.00/1000 gallons Huntington Beach: 50 mgd, $4.40/1000 gallons Huntington Beach: 50 mgd, $4.40/1000 gallons Tel Aviv, Israel: 165 mgd, $2.00/1000 gallons Tel Aviv, Israel: 165 mgd, $2.00/1000 gallons Potable Wastewater Reuse - OCWD Potable Wastewater Reuse - OCWD Microfiltration, Reverse Osmosis, UV/H Microfiltration, Reverse Osmosis, UV/H Direct injection into water supply aquifers (30% of total recharge to the aquifer) Direct injection into water supply aquifers (30% of total recharge to the aquifer) 70 mgd, $2.61/1000 gallons 70 mgd, $2.61/1000 gallons

VA Coastal Plain Aquifer Cross-Section McFarland & Bruce, 2006

About 60% of Sea Level Rise May Be Due to Land Subsidence

Groundwater Withdrawals From Deep Aquifers May Be Causing Most (or all) of Land Subsidence

Largest Groundwater Permits

QUESTIONS?