Stafford County updates drought management plan to protect water supply

The Stafford County Board of Supervisors convened on January 21, 2025, to discuss significant updates to the county's Water Supply Emergency Ordinance and the adoption of a new drought management plan. The meeting, led by Chairman Dix, featured presentations from John Brendel of the Department of Utilities, who outlined the necessity of these changes in light of recent drought conditions and regulatory requirements.

Brendel explained that Stafford County relies on two primary surface water reservoirs—Smith Lake and Lake Mooney—both of which are susceptible to drought due to their dependence on rainfall and river flow. In 2023, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) mandated the establishment of a drought management plan as part of a new withdrawal permit for Lake Mooney. This plan aims to transition existing provisions from the county code into a structured management framework that includes specific drought trigger levels based on both state and local water conditions.

The proposed plan outlines a tiered approach to water restrictions, beginning with voluntary measures for businesses before imposing mandatory restrictions on residents. In the event of a drought emergency, water use would be limited to essential services, such as health and human consumption. Brendel noted that penalties for violations of these restrictions would be adjusted, reducing the criminal penalty from a Class 1 to a Class 3 misdemeanor, while introducing a daily fine of $100 for each violation.

Board members raised concerns regarding the impact of these restrictions on data centers, which are significant water users in the county. Questions were posed about how these facilities would be monitored for compliance and whether they could be charged differently than residential users. Brendel assured the board that data centers would be required to find alternative water sources during drought emergencies, but acknowledged the challenges in enforcement and monitoring usage.

The discussion highlighted the complexities of balancing water supply needs for commercial entities against the requirements of residents, especially during drought conditions. Board members expressed a desire for more equitable enforcement measures and fines that reflect the scale of water usage by different types of businesses.

The meeting concluded with a consensus on the need for further refinement of the drought management plan and the water services agreement, ensuring that all stakeholders are adequately considered. The board plans to revisit these discussions in future meetings to finalize the ordinance and address the concerns raised by supervisors.