Message from the Coordinator, Andrea Wortzel

While Virginia is blessed with abundant water resources, the recent episodic periods of drought combined with increasing population have demonstrated the potential and increasing likelihood of shortages in the future. The protracted litigation over the Lake Gaston pipeline and the King William Reservoir has also demonstrated that there are impediments to water supply projects, impacting the ability to alleviate future shortages. To address these issues, the Virginia General Assembly has mandated development of a state water supply plan. The development of sound plans will require agricultural interests, manufacturing facilities, utilities, water authorities, and municipalities to grapple with natural, legal and political challenges to implementing a workable solution.

Like many other issues in Virginia, water rights are subject to the legal constructs dating back to the eighteenth century. The litigious English riparian system, which is still in force today, is ill-suited to dealing with allocation of water among multiple users and the level of confrontation is exacerbated in a crisis. Concerns about inter-basin transfers also pose significant hurdles to getting water where it is needed.

Finally, Virginia has a tension in its soul between its interest in protecting personal property rights, promoting economic development and preserving the environment. We need a better framework to address and balance these issues.

Our Mission
Providing a safe, reliable water supply for all of Virginia's water needs is the goal. Natural forces, archaic laws, and political inertia are the hurdles. Our mission is to recognize the challenges and develop a plan to find and fund a long-term solution to our goal of a safe, reliable water supply at a reasonable cost.

• Goals and Initiatives

 
Mission H₂O News

www.missionh2ovirginia.com