Bristol authorizes participation in regional water-supply planning; CPDC to apply for state grant

Bristol City Council unanimously approved a resolution on April 8 authorizing the city to participate in regional water supply planning for the Big Sandy and Upper Tennessee Rivers 2 regional planning unit and authorizing the Cumberland Plateau Planning District (CPDC) to apply for a Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) FY2025 water-supply planning grant.

Jake Chandler, Bristol's director of public works, told council that the state mandated regional water-supply plans on Oct. 9, 2024, and has broken the Commonwealth into regional planning units to assess water surpluses and deficits. The resolution authorizes CPDC to act on Bristol's behalf in preparing the joint plan and to manage any grant funds received. The document names Debbie Milton with CPDC as the authorized signatory for the DEQ contract and related documents.

Chandler reviewed the scope that the required plans must include, citing elements such as descriptions of existing water sources and uses, an assessment of projected demand, alternatives analysis for addressing projected deficits, drought response and contingency planning, and maps of important resources as specified in 9VAC25-780 sections referenced by staff. Councilmember Michael Pollard thanked staff that grant funding was available to offset the mandated planning costs; the resolution passed 5-0.

Under the resolution, CPDC will prepare an application for DEQ grant funds, manage awarded grant funds, and allocate shared funds toward tasks and deliverables of the regional planning unit.