By Mollie Halpern
Investigative Reporter
Published: March 31, 2008

Tough tape, packing peanuts, and boxes.

Ivan and Wanda Marshall are moving out of what was supposed to be their dream home.  Their dream has turned into a nightmare.

Ivan says, “This was going to be our retirement home, but not now, so i guess we’re gonna have to get back to the beach and live with our kids until we can get back on our feet”.

Just 5 days after the marshall’s moved into their Franklin County home back in 2006, their private wells went dry.

They weren’t alone.

Ivan says at least four of his neighbors are also having water woes.

“Our quality of life is just not been the same you just don’t know what it’s like to live in fear of loosing water at anytime,” Ivan told us.

The Marshall’s pipes were drained, and so was their bank account.

“We’re losing everything we’ve lost our life savings, we’ve lost $50,000 because of this deal, the house is unsellable,” Ivan says.

A settlement with the previous owners, helped the Marshalls financially.  But, it didn’t explain how houses could be built on land where water seemed scarce.

So, we tried to ask the developer.  But, he wasn’t home and didn’t return our call.

In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, we obtained copies of the water well completion report for Ivan’s home.  The natural flow rate was blank.

We showed the report to Tim Baker of the Virginia Department of Health who told us, it should have been filled out, but the law doesn’t require it.

In the private well regulations, there is *no* minimum well yield.

At one time there was, but that “regulation” became a “recommendation”.

Tim Baker says, “One reason what may be enough water for one family, may not be nearly enough water for the second”.

We don’t know if Ivan’s well initially met the recommendation, because that report was blank.  Later tests did show his well pumped at a rate that’s only half the minumum recommendation.  But, since there’s no regulation, the developer got his permit and went through with the project.

Under the private well regulations, the state must ensure wells are located, constructed and maintained in a manner which does not adversely affect goundwater resources, public welfare, safety and health.  But, it does not guarantee water.

Lawmakers say it’s difficult to regulate a resource when you don’t know how much exists.

We called a state groundwater geologist, who says putting regulations back on the books should be considered.

Brade White of Department of Environmental Quality says, “It’s obviously something that needs to be looked at more closely and perhaps something that needs to be regulated, but it’s a tricky thing.”

Delegate Charles Poindexter says this is a growing problem that’s not going away.  He tells us that Franklin County is developing its own water supply source.  It’s partnering with Roanoke and Bedford county to do that.  That will happen over the next 20 years or so.

Also, the state has launched a new program to study groundwater resources, but it’s expensive and lacks manpower.

Brad White, one of the people we spoke to for this report, is among the four geologists who are doing the work.  He says their work has just begun because of the complexity of the issue.  White also says that you never know how much water you’ll get from a well, that’s mother nature.

That’’s because there are many factors, including bedrock and drought conditions.  White says the bedrock where Ivan lives is Granitic Gneiss, which has poor water storage ability.

Tim Baker from the Virginia Health Department says this is a growing problem.  People are having to dig deeper.  15 years ago the average well depth was about 200 feet.  These days, it’s between 400-600 feet.  Baker says people should arm themselves with knowlege before buying.

The best way to do that, is to do what we did, ask for the permits, and certification of occupancy for your property.