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Chesapeake amends water/sewer code to allow certain exemptions; staff clarifies groundwater-contamination rule
Summary
Council amended Chapter 78 to allow exemptions from mandatory water hookups for some privately installed water lines and clarified that a groundwater-contamination exemption protects existing owners but generally requires future owners to connect (residential: five years; commercial: six months). Staff said the Mount Pleasant/Fentress pipeline is the primary contamination-related case.
The Chesapeake City Council adopted an ordinance amending Chapter 78 of the City Code to provide exemptions from mandatory connections to city water and sewer in narrow circumstances, a change staff said preserves options for some private well users while addressing public‑safety concerns about contaminated groundwater.
Speakers from West Road expressed relief that the code change allows continued use of private wells. "Thank you for changing the city code to allow us the option to continue to use our wells instead of the mandatory connection to city water required by the current code," Linda Tindell told council. She and other residents asked for stronger language assuring they could not be forced to hook up later or face liens or penalties.
City officials and the city attorney explained one specific provision: an existing owner who qualifies for an exemption because of contaminated groundwater will not have to connect immediately, but a change in ownership can trigger a mandatory connection requirement. The attorney and DPU staff said that for residential properties the new owner would have five years to connect; for commercial properties the window is six months after activation of the line. City Manager Price and staff emphasized the provision is tied to the purpose of the water transmission line (for example, the Mount Pleasant pipeline to Fentress Airfield was constructed because of known contamination plumes) and said the West Road transmission main is not part of that contamination‑related exemption.
Vanessa Butler of West Road urged clarity: "I would like it to be very simple… I don't want to have to be forced to hook up if a husband goes on my deed… or if my property goes into a trust." City staff said they will send written notices and hold public meetings as easements are acquired and projects progress, and that property owners affected by contamination-related hookups will receive advance written notice.
Council adopted the ordinance as presented by a 9–0 vote. Staff said implementation will include targeted resident notification and coordination with the Department of Public Utilities when lines are installed or easements are needed.
What’s next: Staff will notify affected property owners in writing as projects proceed, hold public meetings tied to easement acquisition, and track timelines for any required future connections when a property changes ownership.
