Letters for Aug. 23: Virginia can learn from ways Tucson has saved water

Water matters

Re “Report indicates areas of concern” (A1, Aug. 3): Reflecting on the article about groundwater on Aug. 3, and after living in Tucson, Arizona, the conservation methods from Tucson’s “One-Water 2100” strategy could be helpful for Virginia’s future water conservation.

Tucson Water led a community conservation campaign to promote responsible desert living and provided a current water system that differs from the groundwater-dependent system. Groundwater pumping allowed the community to grow completely dependent on groundwater.

In 2008, the city’s mayor and council established a defined service boundary for Tucson Water. Outside the utility boundary, there would be no service. In 2023, a “One-Water 2100” plan was adopted, including rainwater harvesting, water recycling and surface and groundwater. Today, despite a 200,000 population growth, Tucsonans use one-third less water per gallon than they did in 1980. The current population is about 550,000.

Virginia Beach’s population is about 452,000, and it relies on above-ground resources for drinking water, while the Potomac Aquifer provides emergency well pumping during a drought. The Potomac Aquifer, the largest aquifer in eastern Virginia, is, however, the primary drinking water source for about four million Virginians, pumping over 150 million gallons of groundwater each day.

When groundwater is depleted by over-pumping, saltwater intrusion or complete well failure can occur, especially in coastal communities, resulting in the loss of drinking water. The Groundwater Management Act of 1992 regulates groundwater pumping, and many water-intensive industries operate without any restrictions.

Charles Rucker, Virginia Beach

Legacy of learning

It was discouraging to learn that there is not, in the entire public library system of the Old Dominion’s largest city, a single copy of Thomas Jefferson’s “Notes on the State of Virginia” available for checkout. This disappointment, heavy as it was, was more than outweighed by the discovery of a very fine collection of old books for sale at Virginia Beach’s Central Library.

The set features both standard and unusual titles, in a wide range of disciplines, all, for the most part, hardcovers with sturdy, old-school binding. These older and rarer books, known as “blue-ticket” at the Friends of the Virginia Beach Public Library shop, were on sale for half-off of their already tempting prices last month. This month, the sale continues, surprisingly due to, the volunteer attendant tells me, low traffic.

Having already dealt more than my fair share of damage to the collection and my pocket, I freely encourage anyone to pay a visit to that hidden corner of the library. Even more, I must at least attempt to thank those in our area who have donated and are handing over, like Jefferson, their learning to yet another generation of Virginians.

Nosa Lawani, Virginia Beach

November elections

The Nov. 3 election is less than 90 days away. In Chesapeake, in addition to the U.S. elections, we also have City Council and School Board elections.

To the candidates for those local elections I must admit dismay that, with less than 90 days left, many of the local candidates have not filled out any candidate questionnaires. How are registered voters supposed to know what you stand for, what your values are, if we can’t find you?

Ballotpedia.org has questionnaires available for candidates to fill out. It is a terrific way for registered voters to learn about candidate stances on important issues, and to find their sample ballot.

Electing City Council members is important. Why should we vote for you if we don’t know your vision for the expansion of Chesapeake, and your stance on data centers or natural gas compression stations located in neighborhoods that are already bearing the burden of poverty and neglect?

School Board elections are equally important. Members are responsible for supervision of budgets, awarding contracts, determining salaries and overseeing school division accounts. They are supposed to have the well-being and education of our children at the forefront. If we don’t know a candidate’s stance on banning books, content of new texts, school lunch programs, budgets, facility conditions and hiring of administration, why should any of us vote for them?

If you choose to be a mystery candidate and not share your values and ideas now, perhaps you shouldn’t be on the ballot.

Robin C. Comfort, Chesapeake