| Site Map |  | Trade Route Shop | | History | | FAQ & Answers | | Resource Links |
|
NEWPORT NEWS - Water likely won't be as scarce in
future decades as Newport News officials once feared,
according to the latest water needs study. But demand will still likely exceed the amount of water the proposed $168 million reservoir in King William County could generate. And, the report says, odds show that the shortage is much more likely to be worse than predicted rather than better. "There's no doubt in our minds," said assistant city manager Randy Hildebrandt, "that the project needs to be built." Newport News officials released the water study Friday -- the last day they had to file documents to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers concerning the reservoir. The city paid $300,000 for the study, conducted by Omaha, Neb.-based HDR Engineering. It has spent about $18 million pursuing the reservoir. The 1990 water study predicted a water shortage of nearly 40 million gallons per day by 2040. With conservation efforts, the shortage was expected to drop to about 34 million gallons daily. The new study predicts a shortage of 22 million to 27 million gallons of water per day by 2050. Waterworks officials said there's a three-in-four chance of the shortage being greater than 22 million gallons. The reservoir would generate between 19 million and 21 million gallons daily. Glen Besa, director of the Virginia chapter of the Sierra Club, an environmental group, is a longtime opponent of the reservoir. "It's interesting that their numbers have dropped significantly," he said. "This confirms the reservoir is not needed." Other reports often cited by environmentalists put the shortage at 16 to 19 million gallons. Dave Morris, the city's project manager for the reservoir, cited two reasons for the lower shortage projection: a water desalting plant that treats 5.7 million gallons daily that the city began operating in 1998 and a comprehensive study that looked at water needs "with a better microscope." City officials expect Col. Allan Carroll, top officer in the corps Norfolk office, to deny their request for a permit to build the reservoir. They hope the new water needs study will help them when the matter is sent to Carroll's superior, Brig. Gen. M. Stephen Rhoades, of the North Atlantic Division office in New York. A corps spokeswoman said a panel of outside experts convened by the Institute of Water Resources, a corps agency specializing in the technical and policy aspects of water resources, will review new documents and submit a report to Carroll. Carroll will then make a final decision. Interested groups will have 45 days to comment on that decision. Those comments will be sent with Carroll's report to the North Atlantic Division office for further review. No deadline has been set for when Carroll will make his decision. In February, Carroll told city officials he would not recommend a permit even if they proved the Peninsula's water needs because of the reservoir's potential impact on the Mattaponi Indian tribe and the environment. Fred Carroll can be reached at 247-4756 or by e-mail at fcarroll@dailypress.com |
| Site Map | | Trade Route Shop | | History | | FAQ & Answers | | Resource Links |
| Guestbook | | Pictures | | Events in Our World | | Mattaponi | | Contact Us |