Rural water supply in the Virginia coalfield counties

dc.contributor.authorNguyen, Vinh T. T.en
dc.contributor.departmentUrban and Regional Planningen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T21:27:55Zen
dc.date.adate2010-01-26en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T21:27:55Zen
dc.date.issued1996-07-05en
dc.date.rdate2010-01-26en
dc.date.sdate2010-01-26en
dc.description.abstractDue to quantity and quality problems with water sources and the relative poor condition of existing water systems, public water supply development is crucial in the Virginia coalfield counties. In order to address prevailing drinking water supply problems, this paper assessed existing water service delivery in the coalfields, identified appropriate technical and financial options to provide safe and sustainable water supplies for the region, and developed and illustrated a spreadsheet method for assessing capital costs and water rate impacts of funding options for water development projects. The research procedure incorporated literature and plan reviews, mail surveys, phone interviews, U.S. Census housing data mapping and analysis, and spreadsheet development application. The exploratory research showed that the topographic and geologic conditions of the region limit access to quality surface and groundwater. The steep terrain inhibits water line extensions and speeds surface water runoff. Available groundwater found in coal seams and springs is subjected to potential contamination. The dominating economic activities of the region, high extraction mining and logging, have also affected surface and groundwater sources. Furthermore, some existing water systems experience unacceptable water loss due to inadequate line maintenance, old equipment, and lack of meters. Technical solutions to these problems include water harvesting to supplement existing supplies with collected rainwater. Treatment technologies appropriate for small water systems, such as oxidation filtration and aeration, can help remove contaminants typical of water supply in the coalfields but at a considerable cost. Water source protection strategies, such as buffers and setback in zoning, also help minimize water contamination. The choice of financing and funding for water development projects can impact existing water rates. Projects supported solely by rate-supported financing will likely yield increases in water rates beyond the means of most residences, especially when compared to those funded partially by grants. Thus, a balanced combination of financing and grant funding is essential to achieve acceptable water rate impact and project success.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Urban and Regional Planningen
dc.format.extentx, 135 leavesen
dc.format.mediumBTDen
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.otheretd-01262010-020317en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-01262010-020317/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/40809en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartLD5655.V851_1996.N489.pdfen
dc.relation.isformatofOCLC# 36079855en
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectcostingen
dc.subjectdrinking water systemsen
dc.subjectrural water supplyen
dc.subjectVirginia coalfieldsen
dc.subjectwater developmenten
dc.subjectwater rate impact assessmenten
dc.subjectwater supply optionsen
dc.subjectwater treatmenten
dc.subject.lccLD5655.V851 1996.N489en
dc.titleRural water supply in the Virginia coalfield countiesen
dc.typeMaster's projecten
dc.type.dcmitypeTexten
thesis.degree.disciplineUrban and Regional Planningen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Urban and Regional Planningen

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
LD5655.V851_1996.N489.pdf
Size:
10.13 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description: