THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 21, 1994 TAG: 9407210543
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B01 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MAC DANIEL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 91 lines
As the rest of the region weeps over water, Suffolk has announced a plan that will leave it set for at least the next decade.
City officials revealed at the City Council meeting Wednesday night that Suffolk had received preliminary state approval to bring three deep wells on line.
The wells would double the city's water supply, providing an additional 4 million gallons of water a day.
Two of the wells are in the city's growing Bennetts Creek area, and one is in the Reids Ferry region.
The extra supply should be enough for 15 to 20 years of anticipated growth, city officials said - or until the Lake Gaston pipeline brings long-term relief to the entire region.
Suffolk has been working on this water project for four years. It is the first new water source tapped by the city since 1986.
The City Council unanimously approved accepting the well permits, saying the extra capacity would take the city well into the 21st century.
``This certainly helps in the short to mid term, but not the long term,'' Mayor S. Chris Jones said.
Suffolk plans to spend at least $14 million on the well project. That figure does not include the operating costs of the new plants or the millions of dollars it will cost the city to replace bad or undersized water pipes throughout the city.
The money will likely come out of the city's utility fund. A bond issue will likely be necessary, with revenue from new water hookups paying the cost.
William E. Harrell, the city's public utilities director, said it's still too early to tell whether residents will have to pay higher water rates.
Last September, the city applied to the state Department of Environmental Quality for the three well permits. In addition to the daily 4 million gallons, they asked for permission to pump an additional 2 million gallons per day during emergency conditions.
The city received approval on the draft permits last Wednesday, Harrell said.
Before final permission is granted, the city must accept public comments for 30 days and implement a water conservation plan that it has already developed. The plan involves no water restrictions, Harrell said.
The two new wells will be dug in the city's growing north end. In addition, an existing emergency well near Reids Ferry will be converted into a full-time source of water.
Suffolk now buys 300,000 gallons of water a day from the city of Portsmouth. It also pumps water from Crumps Mill Pond and Lone Star Lakes. A desalination plant at the Reids Ferry well site will be expanded to its capacity of 2 million gallons per day.
Before the well permits, Suffolk officials predicted they had enough water left to meet demand for two to five more years under current growth trends.
But with new housing developments popping up throughout northern Suffolk, and the city breaking all records this year on residential building permits, the officials sought an increased water supply.
Suffolk saw a 71 percent increase in building permits issued last year. It issued 239 permits in 1992 and 408 in 1993. City officials say they are on a pace to hit 500 to 700 permits this year.
No other city in the region has had such a large percentage of increase in building permits. Many builders have said that they are looking to develop more in Suffolk now that Virginia Beach has instituted restrictions on water usage.
While growth is still strong in Chesapeake, that city says it could face a crisis in water in two to four years if the proposed Lake Gaston pipeline doesn't come on line.
Even with its new supply, Suffolk is still exploring future sources. The city continues to pursue water contracts with Portsmouth and Norfolk. The Lake Gaston project would help Suffolk indirectly, creating a water surplus in Norfolk that would then be available to sell to Suffolk.
Suffolk officials spoke in favor of the Lake Gaston project on Wednesday before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
The new water source also allows the city to begin bringing city water to residents now relying on private wells. About 40 percent of Suffolk residents use wells for their water.
``We won't be able to take everyone,'' Harrell said, ``but it's our hope to take on those larger residential pockets.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff map
Sites of three new wells
For copy of map, see microfilm
KEYWORDS: SUFFOLK CITY COUNCIL WATER
by CNB