What is groundwater law?

Groundwater law is the set of rules and regulations that govern the use of water that is found underground in Virginia. This set of rules is based on the principle of "prior appropriation," which is the idea that the earlier appropriator of water has priority for use of the resource. In addition to the prior appropriation doctrine, Virginia has implemented laws that protect groundwater from pollution and overuse. The Virginia Water Protection Act of 2018 was established in order to set regulations that promote the efficient, responsible and sustainable use of groundwater in the state. This act established the Virginia Groundwater Management Program, which works to evaluate the availability of groundwater resources and how best to manage them. This program also sets standards for the conservation of groundwater in certain areas. In addition to the Virginia Water Protection Act, the state has implemented The Groundwater Withdrawal Statute. This is a set of rules that requires anyone who wants to withdraw water from a groundwater source to obtain a permit from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. This permit must list the specific purposes for the withdrawal, and must be updated every three years. Groundwater law is therefore a set of rules and regulations designed to protect groundwater from pollution and overuse, and to regulate any withdrawals of water from groundwater sources. By making sure these laws are followed and enforced, Virginia can ensure that its valuable groundwater resources are able to be used for generations to come.

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What is groundwater law?

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