THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 11, 1996 TAG: 9608090156
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 40 lines
This is in response to Gene D. Royer's May 17 letter to the Beacon. In his letter, Mr. Royer commented on a quote from Wanda Cooper, the Public Utilities water conservation coordinator. Ms. Cooper was misquoted in the article (``Know rules for filling and draining'') that appeared in the May 5 Home and Garden section of The Virginian-Pilot.
The city is committed to providing adequate water supplies for all its customers, while maintaining a comprehensive and aggressive water conservation program. The city has been under mandatory water restrictions since February 1992. Despite growth in the number of connections to the water system over the past four years, demand has remained relatively stable. Mandatory restrictions limit the nonessential outdoor use of using city water. One of the restrictions prohibits the use of city water to fill or refill swimming pools.
In order to provide relief to customers facing hardship, the City Council established a Water Conservation Appeals Board. This board provides customers with the opportunity to request exemptions from water use restrictions.
To receive an exemption for filling a new or existing pool there are three conditions that are reviewed and applied as criteria for determining if an exemption is granted:
The applicant must demonstrate with a copy of a GW-2 Drillers Log that groundwater is unsuitable for the intended purpose.
The customer must have received a rejection of their well permit application by the State Health Department.
If the applicant fails to find suitable well water, the applicant must investigate the availability of having bulk-purchased water delivered on site.
Using city water for filling pools is allowed only when an exemption is requested and approved.
Clarence Warnstaff
Director of Public Utilities
City of Virginia Beach by CNB