This biennial report satisfies the requirements of the U.S. Clean Water Act sections 305(b) and 303(d) and the Virginia Water Quality Monitoring, Information and Restoration Act. The goals of Virginia's water quality assessment program are to determine whether waters meet water quality standards, and to establish a schedule to restore waters with impaired water quality.

Water quality standards designate six uses for surface waters in Virginia. These include:

  • Aquatic life
  • Fish consumption
  • Public water supplies (where applicable)
  • Recreation (swimming)
  • Shellfishing
  • Wildlife

Additionally, several subcategories of aquatic life use have been adopted for the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries. The standards define the water quality needed to support each of these uses. If a water body does not meet water quality standards, it will not support one or more of its designated uses. Such waters have "impaired" water quality. In most cases, a cleanup plan (called a Total Maximum Daily Load) must be developed and implemented (either through permitting or development of an Implementation Plan) to restore impaired waters.

Draft 2024 Integrated Report
Final 2022 Integrated Report