‘Time is of the essence’: New Kent approves $8.5 million water tank as groundwater supply faces 2038 state deadline
VENN
NEW KENT COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- New Kent County is moving forward with a shift from groundwater to rivers and reservoirs, after approving two of the three major water projects on Tuesday. However, concerns remain over one delayed project.
During a Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 24, the board approved the $8.5 million Brickshire water tank and the connecting water line, while delaying the $4.5 million Route 249 waterline project, which would interconnect the county's two largest water systems.
Meanwhile, county leaders are also facing a Virginia order that forces the county to reduce groundwater withdrawals by 2038.
"Time is of the essence," Michael Lang, the director of the county's Department of Public Utilities, told the Board of Supervisors.
According to the FY2027 Proposed Capital Improvement Plan, the county is already laying the groundwork for what could be a costly transition, including a Pamunkey River intake and a new treatment plant that could exceed $150 million. The transition is made in part due to the county's ability to support future residential and industrial growth, which could be limited without a long-term supply source.
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With two projects approved, the county estimates that these will raise the water and sewer bill by about $54 per year for a household currently paying $150 every two months -- a 5.9% increase for the first three years, followed by smaller adjustments after that.
Specifically, Lang mentioned a 10% increase in construction costs annually.
The county's future water model will include three sources: reduced groundwater, purchased water from other nearby localities -- including Henrico, Lang said -- and county-owned surface water.
"Just reduced groundwater on our major systems for most of our customers, it would be an emergency supply," Lang told 8News. "We have several systems that will always be on groundwater. They're so far out into the rural county areas that they won't be interconnected."
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Pressure from state regulators, like DEQ
County administrator Rodney Hathaway and Lang both said current groundwater supplies can meet current demands, but state regulators, such as the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), have ordered New Kent to reduce groundwater withdrawals by 2038.
"We have the capacity needed to meet today's demands and even to meet future demands," Hathaway told 8News. "So we are in a really good position as far as our utility systems here in the county."
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To avoid any potential issues by that time, officials are urging a long-term transition to alternative resources, which include rivers and reservoirs. Lang added that this timeline is 100% driven by the state.
"If we were allowed to stay on groundwater, we certainly would," Lang said. "It's cheap, clean and efficient… but the state permitting and regulation have driven us to an alternative."
A permit status page shows that DEQ has pushed the expected for the current groundwater withdrawal permit completion date from May to July 2026.
Without a long-term supply, the county’s ability to support future growth could be limited
While the 1 million above-ground storage tank may extend the life of the current system -- which could cost $10 million -- the capital improvement plan emphasizes that, without a new water source, long-term growth could be constrained.
A countywide water supply plan summary prepared in 2010 shows that water concerns have been at the top of mind for more than a decade, which is something Lang said laid the groundwork for these current water projects.
This particular document said that groundwater aquifers were already under stress and projected water supply deficits in parts of the county over the next decade or so. At the time, planners recommended transitioning to surface water or regional partnerships.
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At the Jan. 28 Board of Supervisors Work Session, Lang told the board that advancing the projects would help prevent a crisis similar to the January 2025 Richmond Area Water Crisis and said that New Kent is "usually the last one to get service."
Another massive undertaking for the county will be the development of a water treatment facility over the next several years -- though Hathaway said it is not an immediate concern for the county.
"It is a long-term project for us, nothing we're looking at doing in the next five to 10 years, but we do want to be ready, and we want to be proactive about it too," Rodney told 8News regarding the Pamunkey River intake and the new water treatment plant facility. "It's a project that we don't particularly need right now."
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Costs and construction, the future steps
During the Feb. 24 Board of Supervisors Work Session, the board chose to delay the Route 249 infrastructure project after Lang presented contracts for all three bids. However, Lang said he is concerned that delaying will only make decisions more costly. He explained that the construction cost would increase about 10% annually.
"So the longer we wait, the more it's going to cost," Lang said. "Just like buying a house or a car -- every year they get more expensive."
The Route 249 project is a major waterline extension and infrastructure construction project designed to connect the county's water systems.
"It is a setback, but it is not the end of the world," Lang said. "It does not change our long-term goals and plans. If it's delayed a year or two years, we will get by … we're here to manage that. That's what we do every day."
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The approved Brickshire tank will address concerns over low water pressure in elevated areas, fire flow protection and the growth of nearly 200 homes in the community. Lang confirmed that construction is already underway.
"With the number of bids we got, that’s phenomenal," he said on Feb. 24.
Lang said DEQ has told the county that as it develops an alternative to groundwater, that source must ultimately serve customers in Bottoms Bridge and throughout the rest of the county.
Hathaway told 8News that the board will hold a public hearing on March 9 for the two remaining projects' financing. They will discuss how that would impact rate structures and operations, with Hathaway hopeful they will make a decision then.
