Greensville signs on to Chowan River regional water-supply plan; county authority to lead $14,558 planning grant

The Greensville County Board of Supervisors approved Resolution 25-84, agreeing to participate in the Chowan River Basin regional planning unit (RPU) for water-supply planning and authorizing the Greensville County Water and Sewer Authority to act as lead applicant for a state planning grant.

Staff and the Water and Sewer Authority—s representatives said the Virginia Assembly amended state code to mandate local participation in water-source planning and created RPUs; Greensville was assigned to the Chowan River Basin 2 RPU along with Sussex County and the city of Emporia. To offset initial costs, the Department of Environmental Quality offered a fiscal-year 2025 grant that required one lead applicant per RPU. Greensville Water and Sewer Authority applied as lead and the meeting record states it was awarded approximately $14,558 toward producing the initial regional water-supply plan.

The authority will administer the grant and contract with a consultant to develop the plan. Staff said the plan is due in 2029 and that any local match or additional costs would be split one-third among Greensville, Sussex and Emporia; the authority and staff will continue applying for additional grant funding to offset costs.

The board approved Resolution 25-84 and a related Water and Sewer Authority resolution (WS 25-2) authorizing the authority to act as applicant, with the board—s vote contingent on companion approvals by Sussex County and the city of Emporia.

Ending: The county will participate in the regional plan, with the Greensville County Water and Sewer Authority as lead applicant for an initial DEQ grant of about $14,558; the authority will hire a consultant and coordinate plan production toward the 2029 deadline.