Caroline water intake facility faces pushback over environmental concerns

CAROLINE COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — More than 100 residents from the Caroline County area and beyond voiced their concerns about a proposed water intake facility at a Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) public hearing on Wednesday.

Inside a packed Caroline County community center on Wednesday, Sept. 25, more than 50 people signed up to share their thoughts about plans to build an over $200 million water intake facility on a local farmer’s land.

According to a project description presented by the agency, Caroline County is requesting a permit to install a 13.90-million-gallon-per-day water intake station on the south bank of Rappahannock River, alongside a 35-mile raw water pipeline and treatment plant near Carmel Church. The project aims to fix what the county has identified as a critical groundwater supply issue.

This proposal has remained highly controversial for a number of reasons — from the county’s ongoing attempt to claim the land via eminent domain to the facility’s potential environmental impacts. Given the DEQ’s area of focus, commenters raised their concerns on the latter.

“I am certain that the high-level withdrawal that county is asking will be detrimental to our river,” one commenter said.

Wednesday night’s public hearing is the start of a 15-day public comment period held by the DEQ. The agency said this hearing is based on the community’s significant interest in the project.

As dozens took to the podium during the over 3-hour hearing, not a single person shared their support for the project. As they shared their concerns, they were supported by more than a hundred people in the audience, ranging from farmers and homeowners to indigenous tribe members and lawmakers.

Their concerns range from a possible increase in salinity levels, a negative impact on fish population and other long-term environmental impacts.

Several speakers also shared concerns about the amount of water that is being used for public use versus industrial use, fearing that this project will be a catalyst for data center growth in the region. All factors county leaders have said they’ve considered.

The county’s attorney previously told 8News in a statement: “The Water Intake Facility is critical to ensuring adequate water supply to the citizens of Caroline County and, as such, the County will continue to pursue the project, as it has been doing for the last 20 years.”

A spokesperson from the DEQ tells 8News that the public comment period will end on Oct. 11. Those interested in sharing a written response can email Allison.major@deq.virginia.gov .

Following this deadline, the agency will compile the submitted comments from the draft permit public hearing and comment period and will include responses from the agency in a summary. Then, a second public hearing will be scheduled, with details posted on the DEQ website and Virginia Regulatory Town Hall .

At the second hearing, the agency will provide all comments and responses. Here, the public will have an opportunity to share their thoughts on DEQ’s responses. Following this second meeting, DEQ will consider all responses before deciding whether to issue a permit.

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