Water Laws, Regulations & Guidance

Laws

The federal Clean Water Act enables the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to authorize the states to implement certain EPA responsibilities. One of these responsibilities is the authority to issue National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits.

EPA has authorized Virginia to issue NPDES permits under the Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit program. These permits carry the weight of federal and state laws and regulations, and are enforceable under state and federal authority.

State Water Control Law and Water Resources statutes:

Regulations

The State Water Control Board promulgates Virginia's water regulations, covering a variety of permits, permit fees, ground water management areas, ground water withdrawals and petroleum storage tanks. A report on specific regulations can be obtained from the following link to the Legislative Information System database, for each of the pertinent chapters listed in the Virginia Administrative Code. Once in the database, first access the chapter of interest and then choose the “create a report” option under that chapter. 

Chapter 11

Public Participation Guidelines

Chapter 15

Regulation For Dispute Resolution

Chapter 20

Fees For Permits And Certificates

Chapter 31

Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) Permit Regulation

Chapter 32

Virginia Pollution Abatement (VPA) Permit Regulation

Chapter 40

Regulation For Nutrient Enriched Waters And Dischargers Within The Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Chapter 71

Regulations Governing The Discharge Of Sewage And Other Wastes From Boats

Chapter 80

General Regulations Under State Water Control Law - Requirement No. 1

Chapter 91

Facility And Aboveground Storage Tank (AST) Regulation

Chapter 101

Tank Vessel Oil Discharge Contingency Plan And Financial Responsibility Regulation

Chapter 110

Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) General Permit For Domestic Sewage Discharges Of Less Than Or Equal To 1,000 Gallons Per Day

Chapter 115

General Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) Permit For Seafood Processing Facilities

Chapter 120

General Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) Permit Regulation For Discharges From Petroleum Contaminated Sites, Groundwater Remediation And Hydrostatic Tests 

Chapter 151

General Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) Permit For Discharges Of Storm Water Associated With Industrial Activity

Chapter 190

Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) General Permit Regulation For Nonmetallic Mineral Mining

Chapter 191

Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) General Permit For Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations

Chapter 192

Virginia Pollution Abatement (VPA) General Permit Regulation For Animal Feeding Operations

Chapter 193

General Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) Permit For Concrete Products Facilities

Chapter 194

General Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) Permit For Vehicle Wash Facilities and Laundry Facilities (formerly called the "Car Wash" general permit)

Chapter 196

General Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) Permit For Noncontact Cooling Water Discharges Of 50,000 Gallons Per Day Or Less

Chapter 200

Water Withdrawal Reporting

Chapter 210

Virginia Water Protection Permit Program Regulation

Chapter 220

Surface Water Management Area Regulation

Chapter 230

Procedural Rule No. 1 - Public And Formal Hearing Procedures

Chapter 240

Procedural Rule No. 3 - Certification Pursuant To 33 USC §1341 ("401" Certification): Procedures For Applications, For Issuance, And For Requests For Modification Or Revocation

Chapter 250

Procedural Rule No. 4 - Proxy Voting By Board Members

Chapter 260

Water Quality Standards

Chapter 280

Ground Water Standards

Chapter 370

Policy For The Protection Of Water Quality In Virginia's Shellfish Growing Waters

Chapter 380

Wetlands Policy

Chapter 390

Water Resources Policy

Chapter 401

Sewage Treatment In The Dulles Area Watershed

Chapter 410

Occoquan Policy

Chapter 415

Policy For The Potomac River Embayments

Chapter 580

Underground Storage Tanks: Technical Standards And Corrective Action Requirements

Chapter 590

Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Financial Responsibility Requirements

Chapter 600

Eastern Virginia Ground Water Management Area

Chapter 610

Ground Water Withdrawal Regulations

Chapter 620

Order Declaring The Eastern Shore Of Virginia - Accomack And Northampton Counties - As A Critical Ground Water Area

Chapter 630

Virginia Pollution Abatement Regulation And General Permit For Poultry Waste Management

Chapter 640

Aboveground Storage Tank And Pipeline Facility Financial Responsibility Requirements

Chapter 650

Closure Plans And Demonstration Of Financial Capability

Chapter 660

Virginia Water Protection General Permit For Impacts Less Than One-Half Of An Acre

Chapter 670

Virginia Water Protection General Permit For Facilities And Activities Of Utility And Public Service Companies Regulated By The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Or The State Corporation Commission And Other Utility Line Activities

Chapter 680

Virginia Water Protection General Permit For Linear Transportation Projects

Chapter 690

Virginia Water Protection General Permit For Impacts From Development And Certain Mining Activities

Chapter 720

Water Quality Management Planning Regulation

Chapter 740

Water Reclamation And Reuse Regulation

Chapter 770

Virginia Financial Responsibility Requirements For Mitigation Associated With Tidal Dredging Projects

Chapter 780

Local And Regional Water Supply Planning

Chapter 790

Sewage Collection And Treatment Regulations

Chapter 800

Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) General Permit For Discharges Resulting From The Application Of Pesticides To Surface Waters

Chapter 810

General Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) Permit For Coin-Operated Laundry

Chapter 820

General Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) Watershed Permit Regulation For Total Nitrogen And Total Phosphorus Discharges And Nutrient Trading In The Chesapeake Bay Watershed In Virginia

Chapter 860

General Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) Permit For Potable Water Treatment Plants

 

Water Guidance

Guidance documents are available on the Virginia Town Hall website.

Water guidance documents are also available on DEQ's website.

footer divider
footer divider
footer divider
Virginia Department of
Environmental Quality
629 East Main Street
P.O. Box 1105
Richmond, VA 23218
(804)698-4000

Advanced Search
Privacy Statement | Terms Of Use | WAI Compliance | Contact Us