March 2022 Newsletter Check out all our latest updates |
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Promoting and defending the interests of Virginia's water and waste authorities |
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Virginia General Assembly:In the Final Stretch The General Assembly convened on January 12 and is slated to adjourn on March 12. More than 2,100 bills have been considered, with just over half passing both the House of Delegates and Senate. The House and Senate have passed their respective versions of the state budget, the differences of which will be hammered out before sending to Governor Youngkin for his review. |
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House, Senate Pass PFAS Bill Requiring Contaminant Study Before Rulemaking Legislators have passed House Bill 919, which would authorize the Board of Health to adopt a PFAS maximum contaminant level (MCL) for drinking water supplies that is established by the U.S. EPA, but would not allow the Board to adopt a separate, different, Virginia-specific PFAS MCL without first convening a stakeholder work group and completing a study. The study would focus on the occurrence and risk of finding targeted PFAS substances in drinking water supplies. The study’s results also would have to be reported to the Governor and certain General Assembly committees before any Virginia regulatory action could be undertaken to establish a Virginia-specific PFAS MCL that is inconsistent with an EPA-established MCL. |
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Bills Restricting Utility Service Disconnects Defeated Two bills, House Bill 841 and House Bill 1054, that would prohibit electric, gas, water, and wastewater utilities from disconnecting residential customers from service during a state of emergency or disaster due to nonpayment have been defeated. Current law allows municipal utilities and authorities to work collaboratively with customers in arrears to establish payment plans. Additionally, House Bill 1052, which would prohibit public utilities from charging residential customers late-payment fees exceeding 2.5% or $5, whichever is less, was defeated. |
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WQIF Gets $313 M Deposit; Focus on Ag BMPs The Water Quality Improvement Fund will receive an additional $313 million in FY23, with at least $230 million to support agricultural best management practices. It is currently estimated that if Virginia is to meet its Chesapeake Bay TMDL goals, approximately 76% of remaining nutrient reductions must come from agriculture. |
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House, Senate BudgetsEarmark Funds for Wastewater Projects More than $68 M has been included in the state budget for certain utility infrastructure projects. The City of Fredericksburg and the King George Service Authority will receive $27 million and $16 million, respectively, to expand their wastewater treatment plants. The Eastern Shore towns of Wachapreague and Exmore will receive $3.6 million and $5 million for respective sewer projects. And Quantico will receive $17 million for water and sewer improvements. |
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