FY2027/FY2028 Local and Regional Water Supply Planning Grants Program

FY2027/FY2028 Local and Regional Water Supply Planning Grants Program is sponsored by Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). This program provides grant funds for eligible regional water resources planning activities. It requires localities within a Regional Planning Area to submit a single, jointly developed regional water supply plan, identifying water supply risks and proposing regional strategies.

Virginia Department of Environmental Quality sent this bulletin at 08/05/2025 12:00 PM EDT View as a webpage / Share Regional Water Supply Planning is Underway Apply Today for 2026 Citizen Water Quality Monitoring Grants Share Feedback on Revised Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement Still Time to Provide Feedback on DEQ's Comprehensive Climate Action Plan DEQ Expands Climate Response Network DEQ Director Tours Upper Occoquan Service Authority Facility State Water Control Board Chair Appointed ORSANCO Treasurer Statewide Public Electric Vehicle Charging Network Changes Regional Water Supply Planning is Underway As water demands change in the Commonwealth, the importance of proper water supply planning grows.

The water supply planning process is a long-term collaborative effort involving a number of state and local stakeholders. Localities take the lead role in identifying the future water needs of their communities and DEQ provides technical analysis and oversight. To that end, DEQ recently completed kickoff water supply planning meetings with all Regional Planning Areas : communities within a defined geographical area of a watershed.

To support the development of Regional Water Supply Plans, $231,000 in grant funds has been distributed among 22 Regional Planning Areas. Apply Today for 2026 Citizen Water Quality Monitoring Grants DEQ is now accepting applications for 2026 Citizen Water Quality Monitoring Grants . Applications must be submitted by Aug.

31 . Awarded proposals are expected to perform project activities between January and December 2026. Share Feedback on Revised Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement On July 1, the Chesapeake Bay Program released a draft revised version of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, a roadmap for a restored Chesapeake Bay watershed signed by the governors of the six watershed states, mayor of Washington, D.

C. , administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency on behalf of the federal government and the chair of the tri-state legislative Chesapeake Bay Commission in 2014. From July 1 – Sept.

1, the public is invited to provide written feedback on the proposed revisions to the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. Still Time to Provide Feedback on DEQ's Comprehensive Climate Action Plan DEQ is still developing a statewide Comprehensive Climate Action Plan and wants your input on potential ways to reduce climate pollution across the state.

Find out what this means for you and your community, and share your thoughts through DEQ’s community survey before the survey closes at 5 p. m. on Aug.

8. Feedback will help DEQ shape a plan that reflects the priorities of Virginia’s communities. For more information, please visit the CPRG webpage or email our team at CPRG@deq.

virginia. gov . DEQ Expands Climate Response Network DEQ recently completed the installation of three Climate Response Network wells in the City of Harrisonburg and in Giles and Shenandoah Counties .

The se new research stations are outfitted with real-time telemetry equipment that measures the hydrostatic pressure of the fractured-rock aquifer system to monitor and evaluate the relation between long-term climatic trends and groundwater levels . The long-term statistics generated by each research station are essential components for drought designations and groundwater resource evaluations throughout the state.

DEQ Director Tours Upper Occoquan Service Authority Facility State Water Control Board Chair Appointed ORSANCO Treasurer For the first time since 1987, a Virginian has been appointed to the executive board of the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) . Lou Ann Jessee-Wallace, Chair of the Virginia State Water Control Board , was appointed as treasurer of the ORSANCO executive board at its recent meeting.

ORSANCO is an interstate commission representing eight states and the federal government, including Virginia. ORSANCO operates programs to improve water quality in the Ohio River and its tributaries, including: setting wastewater discharge standards; performing biological assessments; monitoring for the chemical and physical properties of the waterways; and conducting special surveys and studies. Congratulations to Lou Ann!

Statewide Public Electric Vehicle Charging Network Changes Electric vehicle (EV) drivers, access to charging stations in Virginia is actively changing. After a competitive bid process, DEQ awarded a contract to EVgo in 2018 to develop, install, own and operate the Drive Electric Virginia public EV charging network.

The EV charging industry is continuously changing as newer equipment is developed, more EVs become available, charging demands shift, and funding availability fluctuates. Therefore, charging stations on the network may be added, upgraded, or closed. Public Participation Opportunities Visit the DEQ website for comment opportunities on pending enforcement orders and permit actions.

In addition, there are numerous DEQ meetings and general comment periods where you can stay up to date on topics of interest: Total Maximum Daily Load Advisory Group Meeting - Watershed Cleanup Study for the Broad Run Watershed ; Aug. 7 at 1 p. m.

at Brambleton Library, Meeting Room A, 22850 Brambleton Plaza, Brambleton Public Information Briefing - Dominion Chesterfield Energy Reliability Center Project ; Aug. 7 at 5:30 p. m.

at SpringHill Suites Chester, 12301 Redwater Creek Road, Chester PFAS Expert Advisory Committee ; Aug. 18 at 10 a. m.

at DEQ Central Office, 3rd Floor Conference Room, 1111 East Main Street, Richmond Public Information Session and Public Hearing - Draft Permit from DEQ for a facility to continue post-closure care of two closed hazardous waste management units at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant ; Aug. 20 at 6 p. m.

at Radford Public Library, 30 West Main Street, Radford Sewage Collection and Treatment Advisory Committee; Aug. 27 at 9:30 a. m.

at DEQ Piedmont Regional Office, Training Room Are you committed to protecting human health and the environment? Apply for a job at DEQ . Current openings include: Water Inspector (Aug.

7; Virginia Beach) Stormwater Plan Reviewer (Aug. 8; Richmond) Water Compliance Manager (Aug. 8; Salem) DEQ does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, or sex in administration of its programs or activities, and, DEQ does not intimidate or retaliate against any individual or group because they have exercised their rights to participate in actions protected, or oppose action prohibited, by 40 C.

F. R. Parts 5 and 7, or for the purpose of interfering with such rights.

Title VI Coordinator Melanie Davenport is responsible for coordination of compliance efforts and receipt of inquiries concerning non-discrimination requirements implemented by 40 C. F. R.

Parts 5 and 7 (Non-discrimination in Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Assistance from the Environmental Protection Agency), including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; and Section 13 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 (hereinafter referred to collectively as the federal non-discrimination laws).

If you have any questions about this notice or any of DEQ's non-discrimination programs, policies or procedures, you may contact: Title VI Coordinator - Melanie Davenport; Virginia Department of Environmental Quality; P. O. Box 1105; Richmond, VA 23218; (804) 698-4000 (phone); (800) 592-5482 (toll-free); Melanie.

Davenport@deq. virginia. gov .