| Virginia's Water Quality |
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| A Primer and Toolkit for Virginia's Citizens | ||
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Download Entire DocumentClick this link to download Virginia's Water Quality, A Primer for Virginia's Citizens in its entirety. Please note, this is a large adobe acrobat file.
This Section Contains the Following Information:
State Programs - NPDES and VPDES Permit Programs
Total Maximum Daily Load Program Sign up on Virginia's Town Hall to receive notices about upcoming public meetings and public comment periods:
Local Programs - Zoning Code Changes and Updates
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Unfortunately, not every threat to a stream or river is visible. Things like runoff (urban, suburban and agricultural), groundwater contamination, and discharges from sewage treatment plants or other factories can harm the stream without providing visual clues. What else can you do to help protect your watershed?
Participate in State Government Activities How and why to participate in Triennial Review of Water Quality Standards One of the primary drivers of Virginia's water management programs is the water quality standards. The Water Quality Standards basically sets the bar for the expected water quality of Virginia's streams and rivers. Not only do the water quality standards outline the limits of certain parameters that influence water quality (like dissolved oxygen, pH, certain toxins), but the standards also outline specific stream and river segments that have a special regulations (such as Tier 3 streams, natural trout streams, or streams with relaxed regulations based upon Use Attainability Studies). As outlined in the Clean Water Act, Virginia's Water Quality Standards are reviewed every three years to ensure that they meet public concerns, reflect new scientific and technical information, and follow guidelines developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. During this review process there are several chances for input into the triennial review process. To find out more, and stay involved in water quality issues, sign up to received notices regarding Regulatory Notices and Public Comment Periods: http://townhall.virginia.gov/
How and why to participate in permit issuance or reissue The Clean Water Act outlines the process allowing a certain amount of pollution be permitted to enter Virginia's waterways. New permits and reissues of permits occur often, and often occur without any local watershed resident participating in the process (despite the ability to participate in public meetings and provide comments). While reading the contents of a permit application may seem daunting, there are many resources available on the internet regarding how to read the application and what to look for while reading the permit.
The best way to stay informed about upcoming permit reviews, public meetings, and public comment periods is to sign up on Virginia's Town Hall: http://townhall.virginia.gov/ The Total Maximum Daily Load program is created to clean up streams that do not meet water quality standards. The TMDL is basically an engineering equation that is created to determine how much pollution needs to be reduced within the stream or river’s watershed so water quality standards can be met. It is important for the engineers developing the TMDL to hear from citizens within the watershed for several reasons. Watershed residents can help shed light on potential sources of pollution that might otherwise remain unnamed. They can also help to “ground truth” the water quality model that is typically used in the TMDL development process. Finally, they can help shape the watershed projects that should be completed within the TMDL Implementation Plan. The process for developing the TMDL and then implementing the TMDL is a long process with plenty of opportunities for public involvement. The first opportunity for public involvement is to look for the state's 303(d) list that is created every two years. This list identifies those streams that do not meet water quality standards, why they do not meet water quality standards, what causes the “impairment” (if known), and the schedule to have a TMDL developed. After the report is released, the public is invited to comment on the contents of the document. The next opportunity to get involved in the process is to participate in the public hearing regarding the development of the TMDL. This public hearing is usually held 18 months before the TMDL is scheduled to be developed (the TMDL schedule is included in the 303(d) report). Once the TMDL is developed, the public is again invited to comment on the document. Once the TMDL is developed and approved by the US EPA, an implementation plan will be developed. Again, a public meeting regarding the development of the TMDL Implementation Plan (TMDL IP) will occur at the beginning of the plan development process. Once the TMDL IP is developed, the public is invited to comment on the proposed clean up plan.
Sign up on Virginia's Town Hall to receive notices about upcoming public meetings and public comment periods:
Participate in your County Government Your locality needs to hear your voice! There are many opportunities to participate in the public process in your county. Some of the common places are listed below, but check with your locality about receiving notices on public meetings and public comment periods.
Periodically, your county reviews its comprehensive plan. The Commonwealth of Virginia requires that every locality adopt a comprehensive plan for “guiding and accomplishing a coordinated, adjusted and harmonious development of the territory (State code 15.2-2223)”. The comprehensive plan is the guiding document for future land use decisions within your locality. During the review process, county officials will consider what land use issues the public feels are most important. The comprehensive plan can be used to provide protection to natural resource areas and to limit the negative impact of development on sensitive lands, like riparian corridors. The development and adoption of a comprehensive plan does require public participation. Contact your locality to find out how to receive notices about public meetings and public comment periods.
Zoning Codes and other development regulations While the comprehensive plan guides localities in their land use decisions, the plan is implemented through Zoning Codes, Subdivision Codes, Site Development Codes, and other similar local ordinances. Code changes and additions also require a public participation process. Stay involved in local updates and changes to the zoning code. Contact your locality to find out how to receive notices about public meetings and public comment periods. Also, be on the lookout throughout your locality for signs that specify a parcel is being considered for a zoning change. Many localities post a sign on parcels of land when an application has been made to change the zoning requirements for that parcel. Also, localities often print these notices in the local newspaper (in the classified section).
Many localities are developing watershed management plans to assist them with managing the environmental impact within a watershed. There are no absolute rules or regulations on how to develop a watershed management plan, and no public participation is required, but the best planning processes generally require that a watershed management plan be developed cooperatively through watershed stakeholders, which is you! Contact your locality to find out if they have developed watershed management plans for the locality and how you might get involved.
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