Water Supply Planning
In Virginia, water supply management is approached at a regional level to ensure effective, sustainable solutions across multiple localities. Recent changes in state regulations have introduced new guidelines for how these regional water supply plans are developed and adopted.
A key product of these regional plans is providing guidance to local governments on creating their own local drought ordinances. These ordinances are critical for helping localities recognize when water shortages are happening, determine the severity, and establish actions to address and mitigate the impacts.
By following these plans, communities can better manage their water resources, safeguard against shortages, and ensure long-term water sustainability.
As part of an effort to promote the sharing of information and best practices, the NSVRC has compiled local drought ordinances into a single location. This resource helps localities stay informed and implement effective strategies to manage water shortages. The ordinances provide guidance on recognizing drought conditions and outline the steps to be taken to mitigate water scarcity.
These local drought ordinances are available below:
