September Topic: Available Groundwater in the Bedrock Aquifer of the Virginia Coastal Plain
Abstract:
Available Groundwater in the Bedrock Aquifer of the Virginia Coastal Plain
A recent Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) reports delivers a stark warning: Eastern Virginia's groundwater supply is severely constrained, and a major new water withdrawal permits east of Interstate 95 can no longer be safely approved. This regulatory ceiling threatens to freeze data center expansions, halt heavy manufacturing, accelerate land subsidence, and trigger a multi-billion-dollar economic stagnation across the Commonwealth.
Enforcing a hard cap on further water development east of I-95 imposes immediate, severe financial penalties on Virginia's tax base:
- Tech Sector Capital Flight: Halting water allocations threatens over 430 planned data centers, risking $10+ billion in direct capital investments and jeopardizing the local tax revenues that fund public infrastrutcure.
- Civil Infrastructure Damage: Continued over-pumping of the Potomac Aquifer accelerates land subsidence (sinking ground) in Hampton Roads. This causes structural failure in roads, foundations, and sewer lines, projected to cost coastal cities hundreds of millions in emergency civil repairs.
- Industrial Stagnation: Imposing a freeze on large-scale water permits eliminates Virginia's ability to compete for high-yield manufacturing, paper milling, and logistics hubs, permanently capping regional GDP growth.
Ten years of hydrogeological research, vetting, and multiple presentations at scientific conferences have solidified a solution to this crisis. By disproving long-held assumptions regarding the crystalline bedrock underlying the Coastal Plain, this research demonstrates that a deep, viable, and untapped bedrock aquifer exists beneath the overstressed sedimentary layers. Tapping this alternative system would provide Virginia with a more secure water supply, unregulated by the Virginia DEQ, and serving as a multi-billion-dollar economic savings mechanism for the state.
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Presenter:
Ken Bannister - Director of Geologic Services with KBJW
Mr. Bannister has over 40 years of public and private sector experience in environmental hydrogeology, surface geophysics, well site geology, geo-steering, drilling management, geothermal energy, and especially water resources exploration and development. He is an expert at well design and construction, with completions at depths ranging from 10 to 30,000 feet. He has a proven track record in using remote sensing and geophysical methods to locate high yielding wells in fractured bedrock terrain where he has developed over 25 million gallons per day of drinking water supplies. He has advised on this issue to Scientific American Frontiers, ABC News, Swiss National Foundation, and USAID Funded organizations such as Partners of the Americas. He has worked in developing countries exploring for groundwater and geothermal resources and providing training on the same topics.
Mr. Bannister served as the Chief Hydrogeologist for the Vermont Department of Health, in charge of permitting, regulating and protecting all public water systems in the State. He authored most of Vermont’s original water supply and groundwater management regulations and policies. He served on the Vermont Well Drillers Advisory Council, and the Vermont Groundwater Coordinating Committee. He founded and moderated for many years the world’s largest on-line discussion forum for groundwater scientists. He has located numerous high yielding, record setting water wells in several states including Vermont and Virginia; provided geosteering on the largest on shore natural gas well in North America, and designed and/or managed the drilling on several geothermal exploration wells ranging from 2000 to 7000 feet deep.
Mr. Bannister has worked on projects in the Northeast, Southeast, Southwest and Rocky Mountain regions of the United States as well as on projects in Central America, East Africa, West Africa, South Pacific and Eastern Asia. His clients have included Titan America- Roanoke Cement, IBM, Nestle Waters of North America, Smithsonian Institute, Virginia Commonwealth University, National Naval Medical Center, US Naval Academy, US Army Fort Bliss, Ohio State University, Killington Ski Area, Jay Peak Ski Area, Virginia Department of Parks and Recreation, Virginia Department of Transportation, Chesapeake Operating Company, EQT, Williams Energy, Newmont Mining, and numerous local and county governments including Fairfax, Augusta and Caroline Counties, in Virginia, Berkeley County, West Virginia and Howard County, Maryland.
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Sponsor:
Thank you to our sponsor KBJW!
Koontz Bryant Johnson Williams, Inc. (KBJW) has served as a leading civil engineering, environmental, geotechnical, and survey firm in the Mid-Atlantic & Midwest Regions for more than 30 years. Our well-rounded team of engineers, planners, project managers, surveyors, geologists, and environmental specialists share a passion for developing solutions and providing excellence in professional engineering services. For more information, visit kbjwgroup.com.