LCSA Seeks Mandatory Water Restrictions

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Their attitude about well rights, so they can water their stupid grass, doesn't seem to reflect their written policy of Building Trust. How can you trust someone who would rather keep their grass green than make sure that the community has water to drink?

 

LCSA has no rights to the groundwater. LCSA is responsible for the water supplied to us through their pipes, which they obtain from the Potomac River. All landowners own the groundwater that exists on their own property and are free to do with it as they see fit.

Nobody gets their drinking water from VM groundwater.

 

Exactly. The last thing we need is some government agency telling someone what they can or can't do with wells on their own property which they paid to have dug in order to retrieve water that is under their own property. Certainly if they over use water in a long drought their well can dry up, but that is their own problem which doesn't and shouldn't effect anyone else.

 

The water under their property being extracted by their well is NOT theirs to do with without limits. Groundwater and surface waters are the property of the state. All surface and groundwater withdrawals require state permits that limit the quantity of such withdrawals. Over-withdrawing groundwater from one well can adversely impact the local aquifer. This in turn can adversely impact surrounding wells and groundwater discharges that support surface waters.

 

I just went back and read the last page 12 comments. LCSA has no authority over groundwater resources, that is the purview of the state.

In regard to lawns, much of it will depend on the particular species of grass present in the lawn. Also, a good maintenance plan that controls weeds and establishes deep, vigorous roots enables the grass to better weather periods of drought. If you are going to water, water very thoroughly less frequently as opposed to surficial more frequent waterings. This will also help build a deeper more drought resistant root system.

Flynnibus, as far as under your deck, grass simply isn't your best option. Consider a vigorous shade tolerant groundcover or an inert groundcover such as gravel or mulch.

 

FWIW,

Groundwater use is usually a mineral rights issue. Youown the GW under your property. From that perspective, Van Metre is within their rights. They shouldnot be doing what they are doing and they should be exposed for working counter to community interests for no reason (except maybe selling houses). I wonder what Snow's position would be on the issue?

The State does regulate groundwater quality and all aspects of the surface water of the state. Where the GW and SW interesect has been discussed above.

 

I defer to Eric on this since he is a groundwater specialist. I'm an ecological consultant focused more on biology rather than groundwater resources. That said, I am sorely disappointed if there are absolutely no limits on groundwater withdrawals in Virginia. I believe Maryland, where I began my professional career, has more control over groundwater resources.

Eric, does DEQ, VDH, or the county put any limitations on groundwater withdrawls in terms of quantity? If not, that is absolutely irresponsible. If you can, please expound a little on the detrimental effects of over-drawing groundwater supplies, especially with confined aquifers.

 

Eric and Jeff, you MUST stop participating in other threads within our forums.

What will us non-political people think if we see you outside the Political circus?!?!

 

Jeff,

As far as I know the only limits put on groundwaer withdraw are applied at the subdivision plan approval step. Only Loudoun County (again as far as I know) requires a hydrogeologic study on the property prior to subdivision and that is only for > 10 houses (I think). Once your well is in, you can draw as much as you want from it.

That being said, I understand that VDH is trying to make Hamilton do a hydrostudy for a supply well they want to bring on line. There may be commercial limitations for water extraction that I am not familiar with but I don't think so.

The County hydro study requires a water balance be performed for the property where the average recharge for the property is equal to or greater than the average homeowner useage figures. The problem with the County's process is that they do not account for the effect of these withdraws on the watershed in terms of drought flow in streams. Nor do they account for the cumulative effects of side by side developments on lowering the water table. Nor do they account for the very low storage capacity of the fractured bedrock system (in other words, they may be able to pump the wells at a high rate but there is really a very small reservoir of water to pull from - kind of like hitting a water pipe that has no tank attached to it).

The County also requires a nitrate loading calculation be performed so that the nitrate from septic fields is not projected to be higher than the USEPA 10 ppm drinking water standard. Of course, Virginia has as standard of 5 ppm but the County refuses to adopt that standard (reference the lawsuit from a few years ago).

 

T8erman, you may just incite the wrath of you-know-who! Of course you can tell by the nature (see how I slip in evil words like that!) of my posts that all I ever do is promote my evil duplicitous agenda of convincing people that conservation IS conservative. It's all part of my grand scheme (cue the evil laughter!).

Eric, thanks for the info. Are there any specific studies of the geohydrology of the Broadlands area? Is it a geology that would result in a cone of depression around a strongly producing well?

 

I would recommend kudzu..that seems to do just fine without watering or anything for that matter,..
just joking..

 

There are a couple of things we use to maintain a green lawn etc:

Ironite (***our Top Choice b/c of the balanced nitro/chem levels)
lyme (powered, most grasses in Zone 7 love "sweet" soil, depending on your Ph - you will see crazy results)

Prior to the drought we ran our irrigation system every other day. I agree with another person who made the recommendation to water less often...This allows the roots to go deeper - so folks who water every day, make their lawns dependent on daily watering because of surface rooting.

 

mwb, I almost choked when I saw your recommendation, that is until I saw your just joking reference. Kudzu would certainly cover that area, but would soon cover the house as well! It really is a horrendous plant. I haven't seen much of it in Loudoun County, but it's here. Please eliminate it ASAP if you ever have any on or near your property.

Pea, Ironite is the greatest! It's primarily elemntal iron with other micronutrients. The label says "Nothing Greens Like Ironite" - it's very true, not only for lawns but for trees and shrubs as well.

 

...just make sure you sweep all of it off of the sidewalks and leadwalks because it will leave rust spots/streaks when it gets wet.

 

What to do? A neighbor is setting their irrigation system to run overnight, breaking the rules is one thing but the sneaky factor really irks me. Not big on snitching but wanted some feedback from fellow Broadlandians before I drop the dime.

 

I have a hard time with the idea of being a snitch, but at this point I think the decision should be clear. Most of us are making sacrifices, and so should they. If they set it overnight, then to me that shows knowledge of the cheat. That to me, would be the deciding factor in that case. I already spoke to 2 of my neighbors and actually saw the LCSA truck at 7:30 this morning posting notices (I did not report) so it would seem that follow-up and investigation is happening in our neighborhood. There is no excuse at this point. I use a 2 gallon bucket to water my sensitive items, and I shut off my irrigation system... not that hard and my lawn looks fine.

 

I'd report them. As Zeratul says, these people are doing this knowingly, they've earned the appropriate response. Anything else is passive assent.

 

This area has had abnormally dry conditions for many months - for one to have watered every other day prior to the "drought" is IMO wasteful and irresponsible. Again, it's the mentality that water is not a limited resource and therefore if I can afford to pay the water bill then "myob". Sad.

 

yea Steve, I saw that too, but I think warnings are being issue when reports are received. Then there is supposed to be follow-up to see if they can be "caught". But I would think that a soaking wet lawn and driveway at 7:00 am when there was no rain and the fact that there is an irrigation system... well that should be evidence enough.