Pamunkey River water withdrawal project expected to cost at least $33 million
Even though a mandate is more than a dozen years away, New Kent’s Board of Supervisors are dealing with the problem of bringing more water to the county without tapping into the groundwater supply.
New Kent Public Utilities Director addressed county leaders on the Pamunkey River Withdrawal Project during Tuesday morning’s budget work session.
Lang spoke to supervisors about a 2038 mandate issued through Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The mandate delivered is that by 2038, groundwater withdrawal permits for the two largest water systems at Bottoms Bridge and Central Water Systems will be reduced in volume.
“Continued reliance on groundwater is simply not an option,” Lang commented, adding that an alternative water supply is no longer a need but a must.
Lang’s presentation highlighted the project that started in 2016. In 2016, a surface water withdrawal permit application was filed for the withdrawal from the Pamunkey River. In 2019, the permit was issued. Water quality testing took place over the next three years through the end of 2022, with several rounds taking place.
A service agreement for shared services was reached in 2023, with a corrosion control desktop study taking place in 2024. In 2025, RWI and PS Cultural Resources investigated an interim water supply alternative evaluation, with a revised permit application filed in 2026.
A water treatment plant site evaluation and alternative sites for one began an evaluation through a technical memorandum in December 2014. Three sites were identified through the process; Bottoms Bridge, Kenwood, and Greenwood as central water services areas.
Lang said that the current DEQ permit currently expires in November 2033 but can be extended. The public utilities director said an extension for the application has already been submitted.
A Virginia Marine Resources Commission’s current permit cannot be modified to reflect an intake location change according to Lang. A new permit has been filed with them. An additional permit through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expires in June 2034 is also active, with any modification made required to be reflected in the permit if a new intake location is designated. The application, along with information on the impact on fisheries, has also been submitted.
When it comes to finances, the cost associated with the intake can range from $33-44 million. Two of the biggest costs would be a raw water pump station that carries a rough cost of $11 million and the raw water intake would cost $9 million. Additional costs would be contractors of $4.7 million, bonds and insurance at $800,000, with an expected escalation to $1.3 million over the years. Lang added that the numbers are estimates and can change over time.
The timeline of the project is expected to begin in the mid-2030s. Groundwater reduction would start in Aug. 2038, with the groundwater permit expiration slated for May 2039.
In action taken by county leaders, New Kent Parks and Recreation received approval of $150,000 for future architectural and engineering services for Makemie Woods. In 2022, the county purchased Makemie Woods to convert it into a future park. Items that are slated to be created in the area include a playground, multi-use athletic field, a shelter, a bathroom, and a frisbee golf court. The money for the Makemie Woods was designated from the Colonial Downs Future Project Funds.