{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/10.1-2117.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/10.1-2117.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/10.1-2117.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/10.1-2117.html"}],"law_id":58830,"edition_id":1,"section_id":58830,"structure_id":15444,"section_number":"10.1-2117","catch_line":"Definitions","history":"1997, cc. 21, 625, 626; 1999, c. 257; 2005, cc. 704, 707, 709; 2006, c. 236; 2007, c. 924; 2015, c. 164.","full_text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Biological nutrient removal technology” means technology that will typically achieve at least an 8 mg\/L total nitrogen concentration or at least a 1 mg\/L total phosphorus concentration in effluent discharges.\n\t\t“Chesapeake Bay Agreement” means the Chesapeake Bay Agreement of 2000 and any amendments thereto.\n\t\t“Eligible nonsignificant discharger” means any publicly owned treatment works that is not a significant discharger but due to expansion or new construction is subject to a technology-based standard under \u00a7 62.1-44.19:15 or 62.1-44.19:16.\n\t\t“Fund” means the Virginia Water Quality Improvement Fund established by Article 4 (\u00a7 10.1-2128 et seq.).\n\t\t“Individual” means any corporation, foundation, association or partnership or one or more natural persons.\n\t\t“Institutions of higher education” means any educational institution meeting the requirements of \u00a7 60.2-220.\n\t\t“Local government” means any county, city, town, municipal corporation, authority, district, commission or political subdivision of the Commonwealth.\n\t\t“Nonpoint source pollution” means pollution of state waters washed from the land surface in a diffuse manner and not resulting from a discernible, defined or discrete conveyance.\n\t\t“Nutrient removal technology” means state-of-the-art nutrient removal technology, biological nutrient removal technology, or other nutrient removal technology.\n\t\t“Point source pollution” means pollution of state waters resulting from any discernible, defined or discrete conveyances.\n\t\t“Publicly owned treatment works” means a publicly owned sewage collection system consisting of pipelines or conduits, pumping stations and force mains, and all other construction, devices, and appliances appurtenant thereto, or any equipment, plant, treatment works, structure, machinery, apparatus, interest in land, or any combination of these, not including an onsite sewage system, that is used, operated, acquired, or constructed for the storage, collection, treatment, neutralization, stabilization, reduction, recycling, reclamation, separation, or disposal of wastewater, or for the final disposal of residues resulting from the treatment of sewage, including but not limited to: treatment or disposal plants; outfall sewers, interceptor sewers, and collector sewers; pumping and ventilating stations, facilities, and works; and other real or personal property and appurtenances incident to their development, use, or operation.\n\t\t“Reasonable sewer costs” means the amount expended per household for sewer service in relation to the median household income of the service area as determined by guidelines developed and approved by the State Water Control Board for use with the Virginia Water Facilities Revolving Fund established pursuant to Chapter 22 (\u00a7 62.1-224 et seq.) of Title 62.1.\n\t\t“Significant discharger” means (i) a publicly owned treatment works discharging to the Chesapeake Bay watershed with a design capacity of 0.5 million gallons per day or greater, (ii) a publicly owned treatment works discharging to the Chesapeake Bay watershed east of the fall line with a design capacity of 0.1 million gallons per day or greater, (iii) a planned or newly expanding publicly owned treatment works discharging to the Chesapeake Bay watershed, which is expected to be in operation by 2010 with a permitted design of 0.5 million gallons per day or greater, or (iv) a planned or newly expanding publicly owned treatment works discharging to the Chesapeake Bay watershed east of the fall line with a design capacity of 0.1 million gallons per day or greater, which is expected to be in operation by 2010.\n\t\t“State-of-the-art nutrient removal technology” means technology that will achieve at least a 3 mg\/L total nitrogen concentration or at least a 0.3 mg\/L total phosphorus concentration in effluent discharges.\n\t\t“State waters” means all waters on the surface or under the ground, wholly or partially within or bordering the Commonwealth or within its jurisdictions.\n\t\t“Water Quality Improvement Grants” means grants available from the Fund for projects of local governments, institutions of higher education, and individuals (i) to achieve nutrient reduction goals in regulations, permits, or the Chesapeake Bay TMDL Watershed Implementation Plan or (ii) to achieve other water quality restoration, protection or enhancement benefits.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":215542,"text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Biological nutrient removal technology” means technology that will typically achieve at least an 8 mg\/L total nitrogen concentration or at least a 1 mg\/L total phosphorus concentration in effluent discharges.\n\t\t“Chesapeake Bay Agreement” means the Chesapeake Bay Agreement of 2000 and any amendments thereto.\n\t\t“Eligible nonsignificant discharger” means any publicly owned treatment works that is not a significant discharger but due to expansion or new construction is subject to a technology-based standard under \u00a7 62.1-44.19:15 or 62.1-44.19:16.\n\t\t“Fund” means the Virginia Water Quality Improvement Fund established by Article 4 (\u00a7 10.1-2128 et seq.).\n\t\t“Individual” means any corporation, foundation, association or partnership or one or more natural persons.\n\t\t“Institutions of higher education” means any educational institution meeting the requirements of \u00a7 60.2-220.\n\t\t“Local government” means any county, city, town, municipal corporation, authority, district, commission or political subdivision of the Commonwealth.\n\t\t“Nonpoint source pollution” means pollution of state waters washed from the land surface in a diffuse manner and not resulting from a discernible, defined or discrete conveyance.\n\t\t“Nutrient removal technology” means state-of-the-art nutrient removal technology, biological nutrient removal technology, or other nutrient removal technology.\n\t\t“Point source pollution” means pollution of state waters resulting from any discernible, defined or discrete conveyances.\n\t\t“Publicly owned treatment works” means a publicly owned sewage collection system consisting of pipelines or conduits, pumping stations and force mains, and all other construction, devices, and appliances appurtenant thereto, or any equipment, plant, treatment works, structure, machinery, apparatus, interest in land, or any combination of these, not including an onsite sewage system, that is used, operated, acquired, or constructed for the storage, collection, treatment, neutralization, stabilization, reduction, recycling, reclamation, separation, or disposal of wastewater, or for the final disposal of residues resulting from the treatment of sewage, including but not limited to: treatment or disposal plants; outfall sewers, interceptor sewers, and collector sewers; pumping and ventilating stations, facilities, and works; and other real or personal property and appurtenances incident to their development, use, or operation.\n\t\t“Reasonable sewer costs” means the amount expended per household for sewer service in relation to the median household income of the service area as determined by guidelines developed and approved by the State Water Control Board for use with the Virginia Water Facilities Revolving Fund established pursuant to Chapter 22 (\u00a7 62.1-224 et seq.) of Title 62.1.\n\t\t“Significant discharger” means (i) a publicly owned treatment works discharging to the Chesapeake Bay watershed with a design capacity of 0.5 million gallons per day or greater, (ii) a publicly owned treatment works discharging to the Chesapeake Bay watershed east of the fall line with a design capacity of 0.1 million gallons per day or greater, (iii) a planned or newly expanding publicly owned treatment works discharging to the Chesapeake Bay watershed, which is expected to be in operation by 2010 with a permitted design of 0.5 million gallons per day or greater, or (iv) a planned or newly expanding publicly owned treatment works discharging to the Chesapeake Bay watershed east of the fall line with a design capacity of 0.1 million gallons per day or greater, which is expected to be in operation by 2010.\n\t\t“State-of-the-art nutrient removal technology” means technology that will achieve at least a 3 mg\/L total nitrogen concentration or at least a 0.3 mg\/L total phosphorus concentration in effluent discharges.\n\t\t“State waters” means all waters on the surface or under the ground, wholly or partially within or bordering the Commonwealth or within its jurisdictions.\n\t\t“Water Quality Improvement Grants” means grants available from the Fund for projects of local governments, institutions of higher education, and individuals (i) to achieve nutrient reduction goals in regulations, permits, or the Chesapeake Bay TMDL Watershed Implementation Plan or (ii) to achieve other water quality restoration, protection or enhancement benefits.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":15444,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14173,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:55:04","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:55:04","permalink":{"id":146805,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15444,"identifier":"1","token":"10.1\/II\/21.1\/1","url":"\/10.1\/II\/21.1\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14173,"edition_id":1,"name":"Virginia Water Quality Improvement Act of 1997","identifier":"21.1","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12741,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:47:08","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:47:08","permalink":{"id":146803,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14173,"identifier":"21.1","token":"10.1\/II\/21.1","url":"\/10.1\/II\/21.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12741,"edition_id":1,"name":"Activities Administered by Other Entities","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12740,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":144833,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12741,"identifier":"II","token":"10.1\/II","url":"\/10.1\/II\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12740,"edition_id":1,"name":"Conservation","identifier":"10.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":143313,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12740,"identifier":"10.1","token":"10.1","url":"\/10.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":58830,"structure_id":15444,"section_number":"10.1-2117","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/10.1-2117\/","token":"10.1\/II\/21.1\/1\/10.1-2117","metadata":false},{"id":61698,"structure_id":15444,"section_number":"10.1-2118","catch_line":"Cooperative program established","url":"\/10.1-2118\/","token":"10.1\/II\/21.1\/1\/10.1-2118","metadata":false},{"id":62236,"structure_id":15444,"section_number":"10.1-2119","catch_line":"Effect of chapter on other governmental authority","url":"\/10.1-2119\/","token":"10.1\/II\/21.1\/1\/10.1-2119","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":61698,"structure_id":15444,"section_number":"10.1-2118","catch_line":"Cooperative program established","url":"\/10.1-2118\/","token":"10.1\/II\/21.1\/1\/10.1-2118","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/10.1-2117\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1997. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 21<\/a>, 625<\/a>, and 626<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 5 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1999, chapter 257<\/a>; in 2005, chapters 704<\/a>, 707<\/a>, and 709<\/a>; in 2006, chapter 236<\/a>; in 2007, chapter 924<\/a>; in 2015, chapter 164<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":82526,"section_number":"10.1-1186.01","catch_line":"Reimbursements to localities for upgrades to treatment works","order_by":null,"url":"\/10.1-1186.01\/"},{"id":76903,"section_number":"62.1-223.3","catch_line":"Wastewater infrastructure needs assessment","order_by":null,"url":"\/62.1-223.3\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":84120,"section_number":"10.1-2128","catch_line":"Virginia Water Quality Improvement Fund established; purposes","order_by":null,"url":"\/10.1-2128\/"},{"id":58446,"section_number":"60.2-220","catch_line":"Institution of higher education","order_by":null,"url":"\/60.2-220\/"},{"id":67684,"section_number":"62.1-224","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/62.1-224\/"},{"id":77343,"section_number":"62.1-44.19:15","catch_line":"New or expanded facilities","order_by":null,"url":"\/62.1-44.19_15\/"},{"id":81630,"section_number":"62.1-44.19:16","catch_line":"Technology-based standards and effluent limitations","order_by":null,"url":"\/62.1-44.19_16\/"}],"permalink":{"id":146807,"object_type":"law","relational_id":58830,"identifier":"10.1-2117","token":"10.1\/II\/21.1\/1\/10.1-2117","url":"\/10.1-2117\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/10.1-2117\/","token":"10.1\/II\/21.1\/1\/10.1-2117","dublin_core":{"Title":"Definitions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 10.1-2117","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Biological nutrient removal technology<\/span><\/span>” means technology that will typically achieve at least an 8 mg\/L total nitrogen concentration or at least a 1 mg\/L total phosphorus concentration in effluent discharges.\n\t\t“Chesapeake Bay Agreement<\/span>” means the Chesapeake Bay Agreement<\/span> of 2000 and any amendments thereto.\n\t\t“Eligible nonsignificant discharger<\/span>” means any publicly owned treatment works<\/span> that is not a significant discharger<\/span> but due to expansion or new construction is subject to a technology-based standard under \u00a7 62.1-44.19:15<\/a> or 62.1-44.19:16<\/a>.\n\t\t“Fund<\/span>” means the Virginia Water Quality Improvement Fund<\/span> established by Article 4 (\u00a7 10.1-2128<\/a> et seq.).\n\t\t“Individual<\/span>” means any corporation, foundation, association or partnership or one or more natural persons.\n\t\t“Institutions of higher education<\/span>” means any educational institution meeting the requirements of \u00a7 60.2-220<\/a>.\n\t\t“Local government<\/span>” means any county, city, town, municipal corporation, authority, district, commission or political subdivision of the Commonwealth.\n\t\t“Nonpoint source pollution<\/span>” means pollution of state waters<\/span> washed from the land surface in a diffuse manner and not resulting from a discernible, defined or discrete conveyance.\n\t\t“Nutrient removal technology<\/span>” means state-of-the-art nutrient removal technology<\/span><\/span>, biological nutrient removal technology<\/span><\/span>, or other nutrient removal technology<\/span>.\n\t\t“Point source pollution<\/span>” means pollution of state waters<\/span> resulting from any discernible, defined or discrete conveyances.\n\t\t“Publicly owned treatment works<\/span>” means a publicly owned sewage collection system consisting of pipelines or conduits, pumping stations and force mains, and all other construction, devices, and appliances appurtenant thereto, or any equipment, plant, treatment works, structure, machinery, apparatus, interest in land, or any combination of these, not including an onsite sewage system, that is used, operated, acquired, or constructed for the storage, collection, treatment, neutralization, stabilization, reduction, recycling, reclamation, separation, or disposal of wastewater, or for the final disposal of residues resulting from the treatment of sewage, including but not limited to: treatment or disposal plants; outfall sewers, interceptor sewers, and collector sewers; pumping and ventilating stations, facilities, and works; and other real or personal property and appurtenances incident to their development, use, or operation.\n\t\t“Reasonable sewer costs<\/span>” means the amount expended per household for sewer service in relation to the median household income of the service area as determined by guidelines developed and approved by the State Water Control Board for use with the Virginia Water Facilities Revolving Fund<\/span> established pursuant to Chapter 22 (\u00a7 62.1-224<\/a> et seq.) of Title 62.1.\n\t\t“Significant discharger<\/span>” means (i) a publicly owned treatment works<\/span> discharging to the Chesapeake Bay watershed with a design capacity of 0.5 million gallons per day or greater, (ii) a publicly owned treatment works<\/span> discharging to the Chesapeake Bay watershed east of the fall line with a design capacity of 0.1 million gallons per day or greater, (iii) a planned or newly expanding publicly owned treatment works<\/span> discharging to the Chesapeake Bay watershed, which is expected to be in operation by 2010 with a permitted design of 0.5 million gallons per day or greater, or (iv) a planned or newly expanding publicly owned treatment works<\/span> discharging to the Chesapeake Bay watershed east of the fall line with a design capacity of 0.1 million gallons per day or greater, which is expected to be in operation by 2010.\n\t\t“State-of-the-art nutrient removal technology<\/span><\/span>” means technology that will achieve at least a 3 mg\/L total nitrogen concentration or at least a 0.3 mg\/L total phosphorus concentration in effluent discharges.\n\t\t“State waters<\/span>” means all waters on the surface or under the ground, wholly or partially within or bordering the Commonwealth or within its jurisdictions<\/span>.\n\t\t“Water Quality Improvement Grants<\/span>” means grants available from the Fund<\/span> for projects of local governments<\/span>, institutions of higher education<\/span>, and individuals<\/span> (i) to achieve nutrient reduction goals in regulations, permits, or the Chesapeake Bay TMDL Watershed Implementation Plan or (ii) to achieve other water quality restoration, protection or enhancement benefits.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEFINITIONS (\u00a7 10.1-2117)\n\nAs used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Biological nutrient removal technology” means technology that\nwill typically achieve at least an 8 mg\/L total nitrogen concentration or at\nleast a 1 mg\/L total phosphorus concentration in effluent discharges.\n\t\t“Chesapeake Bay Agreement” means the Chesapeake Bay Agreement of\n2000 and any amendments thereto.\n\t\t“Eligible nonsignificant discharger” means any publicly owned\ntreatment works that is not a significant discharger but due to expansion or new\nconstruction is subject to a technology-based standard under \u00a7 62.1-44.19:15 or\n62.1-44.19:16.\n\t\t“Fund” means the Virginia Water Quality Improvement Fund\nestablished by Article 4 (\u00a7 10.1-2128 et seq.).\n\t\t“Individual” means any corporation, foundation, association or\npartnership or one or more natural persons.\n\t\t“Institutions of higher education” means any educational\ninstitution meeting the requirements of \u00a7 60.2-220.\n\t\t“Local government” means any county, city, town, municipal\ncorporation, authority, district, commission or political subdivision of the\nCommonwealth.\n\t\t“Nonpoint source pollution” means pollution of state waters washed\nfrom the land surface in a diffuse manner and not resulting from a discernible,\ndefined or discrete conveyance.\n\t\t“Nutrient removal technology” means state-of-the-art nutrient\nremoval technology, biological nutrient removal technology, or other nutrient\nremoval technology.\n\t\t“Point source pollution” means pollution of state waters resulting\nfrom any discernible, defined or discrete conveyances.\n\t\t“Publicly owned treatment works” means a publicly owned sewage\ncollection system consisting of pipelines or conduits, pumping stations and\nforce mains, and all other construction, devices, and appliances appurtenant\nthereto, or any equipment, plant, treatment works, structure, machinery,\napparatus, interest in land, or any combination of these, not including an\nonsite sewage system, that is used, operated, acquired, or constructed for the\nstorage, collection, treatment, neutralization, stabilization, reduction,\nrecycling, reclamation, separation, or disposal of wastewater, or for the final\ndisposal of residues resulting from the treatment of sewage, including but not\nlimited to: treatment or disposal plants; outfall sewers, interceptor sewers,\nand collector sewers; pumping and ventilating stations, facilities, and works;\nand other real or personal property and appurtenances incident to their\ndevelopment, use, or operation.\n\t\t“Reasonable sewer costs” means the amount expended per household\nfor sewer service in relation to the median household income of the service area\nas determined by guidelines developed and approved by the State Water Control\nBoard for use with the Virginia Water Facilities Revolving Fund established\npursuant to Chapter 22 (\u00a7 62.1-224 et seq.) of Title 62.1.\n\t\t“Significant discharger” means (i) a publicly owned treatment\nworks discharging to the Chesapeake Bay watershed with a design capacity of 0.5\nmillion gallons per day or greater, (ii) a publicly owned treatment works\ndischarging to the Chesapeake Bay watershed east of the fall line with a design\ncapacity of 0.1 million gallons per day or greater, (iii) a planned or newly\nexpanding publicly owned treatment works discharging to the Chesapeake Bay\nwatershed, which is expected to be in operation by 2010 with a permitted design\nof 0.5 million gallons per day or greater, or (iv) a planned or newly expanding\npublicly owned treatment works discharging to the Chesapeake Bay watershed east\nof the fall line with a design capacity of 0.1 million gallons per day or\ngreater, which is expected to be in operation by 2010.\n\t\t“State-of-the-art nutrient removal technology” means technology\nthat will achieve at least a 3 mg\/L total nitrogen concentration or at least a\n0.3 mg\/L total phosphorus concentration in effluent discharges.\n\t\t“State waters” means all waters on the surface or under the\nground, wholly or partially within or bordering the Commonwealth or within its\njurisdictions.\n\t\t“Water Quality Improvement Grants” means grants available from the\nFund for projects of local governments, institutions of higher education, and\nindividuals (i) to achieve nutrient reduction goals in regulations, permits, or\nthe Chesapeake Bay TMDL Watershed Implementation Plan or (ii) to achieve other\nwater quality restoration, protection or enhancement benefits.\n\nHISTORY: 1997, cc. 21, 625, 626; 1999, c. 257; 2005, cc. 704, 707, 709; 2006, c.\n236; 2007, c. 924; 2015, c. 164.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}