WQA Guidance Manual

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Virginia bases its water quality assessment on the ability to support designated uses, determined by numeric and/or narrative water quality standards. A description of these designated uses and their corresponding assessment indicators are listed in the below table.

DESIGNATED USE	USE DESCRIPTION/INDICATORS
Aquatic Life Use, Chesapeake Bay sub-uses	Description: The propagation, growth, and protection of a balanced indigenous population of aquatic life that may be expected to inhabit a waterbody
Aquatic Life Use, Chesapeake Bay sub-uses	Indicators: Dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, chlorophyll a, nutrients, water column and sediment toxics, toxicity tests, bottom-dwelling macroinvertebrates, submerged aquatic vegetation
Fish Consumption Use	Description: Game and marketable fish species that are safe for human health
Fish Consumption Use	Indicators: VDH notices, fish tissue toxics, water column toxics
Shellfishing Use	Description: Marketable shellfish (clams, oysters, mussels) that are safe for human health
Shellfishing Use	Indicators: VDH notices
Recreation (Swimming) Use	Description: Swimming, boating, and other recreational activities
Recreation (Swimming) Use	Indicators: VDH notices, bacteria
Public Water Supply Use	Description: Drinking water safe for human health
Public Water Supply Use	Indicators: VDH notices, water column toxics
Wildlife Use	Description: The propagation, growth, and protection of associated wildlife
Wildlife Use	Indicators: Water column toxics

*Chlorophyll a and nutrients (total phosphorus) are assessed only in the lakes listed in Section 187 of the WQS. Chlorophyll a is also assessed in the tidal James River.

Final 2024 Water Quality Assessment Guidance Manual

Virginia’s 2024 Water Quality Assessment Guidance Manual contains the assessment procedures and methods to be used for the development of Virginia’s Integrated Report. The guidance addresses all key elements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 2006 Assessment Guidance and subsequent updates current to January 2023, in addition to the assessment methodology for Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Standards.

Modifications have been made to the guidance document since 2022, the most recent approved Integrated Report. A complete list of significant guidance modifications is described in Part II of the manual.

Section 62.1-44.19:5 C of the Code of Virginia requires DEQ to develop and publish the procedures used for defining and determining impaired waters and provide for public comment on the procedures. The public was invited to submit written comments on the draft guidance from March 22 through April 21, 2023. No comments were received during the formal public comment period.

Section 2.2-4002.1 of the Code of Virginia requires final guidance documents to be subject to a 30-day public comment period prior to becoming effective. The public comment period was September 25 through October 25, 2023. The effective date of the guidance document was delayed 30 days until November 25, 2023, to respond to comments received during the comment period associated with the final guidance.

Historical Guidance

Virginia DEQ

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WQA Guidance Manual