{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/62.1-10.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/62.1-10.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/62.1-10.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/62.1-10.html"}],"law_id":81011,"edition_id":1,"section_id":81011,"structure_id":16479,"section_number":"62.1-10","catch_line":"Definitions","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 62-9.1; 1954, c. 330; 1958, c. 413; 1968, c. 659; 1989, c. 410.","full_text":"As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them:\n\na\n\n“Water” includes all waters, on the surface and under the ground, wholly or partially within or bordering the Commonwealth or within its jurisdiction and which affect the public welfare.b\n\n“Beneficial use” means both instream and offstream uses. Instream beneficial uses include, but are not limited to, the protection of fish and wildlife habitat, maintenance of waste assimilation, recreation, navigation, and cultural and aesthetic values. Offstream beneficial uses include, but are not limited to, domestic (including public water supply), agricultural, electric power generation, commercial and industrial uses. Public water supply uses for human consumption shall be considered the highest priority.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":290388,"text":"As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"a"},"1":{"id":290389,"text":"“Water” includes all waters, on the surface and under the ground, wholly or partially within or bordering the Commonwealth or within its jurisdiction and which affect the public welfare.","type":"section","prefixes":["a"],"prefix":"a","entire_prefix":"a","prefix_anchor":"a","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"b"},"2":{"id":290390,"text":"“Beneficial use” means both instream and offstream uses. Instream beneficial uses include, but are not limited to, the protection of fish and wildlife habitat, maintenance of waste assimilation, recreation, navigation, and cultural and aesthetic values. Offstream beneficial uses include, but are not limited to, domestic (including public water supply), agricultural, electric power generation, commercial and industrial uses. Public water supply uses for human consumption shall be considered the highest priority.","type":"section","prefixes":["b"],"prefix":"b","entire_prefix":"b","prefix_anchor":"b","level":1,"prior_prefix":"a"}},"ancestry":[{"id":16479,"edition_id":1,"name":"State Policy as to Waters","identifier":"2","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12909,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 04:20:19","date_modified":"2026-06-26 04:20:19","permalink":{"id":268597,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":16479,"identifier":"2","token":"62.1\/2","url":"\/62.1\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12909,"edition_id":1,"name":"Waters of the State, Ports and Harbors","identifier":"62.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:00","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:00","permalink":{"id":268199,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12909,"identifier":"62.1","token":"62.1","url":"\/62.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":81011,"structure_id":16479,"section_number":"62.1-10","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/62.1-10\/","token":"62.1\/2\/62.1-10","metadata":false},{"id":78538,"structure_id":16479,"section_number":"62.1-11","catch_line":"Waters declared natural resource; state regulation and conservation; limitations upon right to use","url":"\/62.1-11\/","token":"62.1\/2\/62.1-11","metadata":false},{"id":83056,"structure_id":16479,"section_number":"62.1-12","catch_line":"Valid uses not affected; chapter not applicable to proceedings determining rights","url":"\/62.1-12\/","token":"62.1\/2\/62.1-12","metadata":false},{"id":69460,"structure_id":16479,"section_number":"62.1-13","catch_line":"Construction with reference to rights, etc., of counties, cities and towns","url":"\/62.1-13\/","token":"62.1\/2\/62.1-13","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":78538,"structure_id":16479,"section_number":"62.1-11","catch_line":"Waters declared natural resource; state regulation and conservation; limitations upon right to use","url":"\/62.1-11\/","token":"62.1\/2\/62.1-11","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/62.1-10\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 4 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 1954, chapter 330; in 1958, chapter 413; in 1968, chapter 659; in 1989, chapter 410.<\/p>","references":[{"id":79002,"section_number":"28.2-1203","catch_line":"Unlawful use of subaqueous beds; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/28.2-1203\/"},{"id":76147,"section_number":"45.2-1646","catch_line":" Tidewater Virginia; drilling for gas or oil prohibited in certain areas","order_by":null,"url":"\/45.2-1646\/"},{"id":54086,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:1.2","catch_line":"Lake level contingency plans","order_by":null,"url":"\/62.1-44.15_1.2\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":268599,"object_type":"law","relational_id":81011,"identifier":"62.1-10","token":"62.1\/2\/62.1-10","url":"\/62.1-10\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/62.1-10\/","token":"62.1\/2\/62.1-10","dublin_core":{"Title":"Definitions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 62.1-10","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

a.<\/span> “Water<\/span>” includes all waters<\/span>, on the surface and under the ground, wholly or partially within or bordering the Commonwealth or within its jurisdiction<\/span> and which affect the public welfare. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

b.<\/span> “Beneficial use<\/span>” means both instream and offstream uses. Instream beneficial uses<\/span> include, but are not limited to, the protection of fish and wildlife habitat, maintenance of waste assimilation, recreation, navigation, and cultural and aesthetic values. Offstream beneficial uses<\/span> include, but are not limited to, domestic (including public water<\/span> supply), agricultural, electric power generation, commercial and industrial uses. Public water<\/span> supply uses for human consumption shall be considered the highest priority. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEFINITIONS (\u00a7 62.1-10)\n\nAs used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings\nrespectively ascribed to them:\n\na. “Water” includes all waters, on the surface and under the ground,\nwholly or partially within or bordering the Commonwealth or within its\njurisdiction and which affect the public welfare.\n\nb. “Beneficial use” means both instream and offstream uses. Instream\nbeneficial uses include, but are not limited to, the protection of fish and\nwildlife habitat, maintenance of waste assimilation, recreation, navigation, and\ncultural and aesthetic values. Offstream beneficial uses include, but are not\nlimited to, domestic (including public water supply), agricultural, electric\npower generation, commercial and industrial uses. Public water supply uses for\nhuman consumption shall be considered the highest priority.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 62-9.1; 1954, c. 330; 1958, c. 413; 1968, c. 659; 1989,\nc. 410.","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}}