The 1977 General Assembly passed House Joint Resolution No. 236 which calls for a study of the water supply and allocation problems of Northern and Southeastern Virginia with a report, including recommended solutions and legislation necessary for implementation, by December 1, 1977. A nine-member State Water Study Commission was appointed to in this endeavor.

The Commission, having been assisted by the staff of the State Water Control Board, has worked diligently to identify and evaluate potable alternatives for the water supply problems of both the Northern and Southeastern sections of the State. However, the magnitude and complexity of the work proved to be a formidable task and the Commission recognizes that it may have indeed only scratched the surface.

As Chairman of the State Water Study Commission, I am pleased to submit the attached report outlining specific interim recommendations for each of the two study areas. Pursuant to our legislative mandate, draft legislation necessary to implement the recommendations is now undergoing review and should be finalized within the next few weeks. The legislation will include: a resolution to expand and extend the Commission for at least one year; a bill establishing a permit system for withdrawals of water from the Potomac; and a bill empowering localities to declare water emergencies and to adopt ordinances restricting water usage for the duration of the emergency.

Respectfully submitted,

J. Lewis Rawls, Jr.