{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/62.1-44.2.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/62.1-44.2.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/62.1-44.2.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/62.1-44.2.html"}],"law_id":54640,"edition_id":1,"section_id":54640,"structure_id":13661,"section_number":"62.1-44.2","catch_line":"Short title; purpose","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 62.1-14; 1968, c. 659; 1970, c. 638; 1978, c. 827; 2000, c. 972.","full_text":"The short title of this chapter is the State Water Control Law. It is the policy of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the purpose of this law to: (1) protect existing high quality state waters and restore all other state waters to such condition of quality that any such waters will permit all reasonable public uses and will support the propagation and growth of all aquatic life, including game fish, which might reasonably be expected to inhabit them; (2) safeguard the clean waters of the Commonwealth from pollution; (3) prevent any increase in pollution; (4) reduce existing pollution; (5) promote and encourage the reclamation and reuse of wastewater in a manner protective of the environment and public health; and (6) promote water resource conservation, management and distribution, and encourage water consumption reduction in order to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of the present and future citizens of the Commonwealth.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":200661,"text":"The short title of this chapter is the State Water Control Law. It is the policy of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the purpose of this law to: (1) protect existing high quality state waters and restore all other state waters to such condition of quality that any such waters will permit all reasonable public uses and will support the propagation and growth of all aquatic life, including game fish, which might reasonably be expected to inhabit them; (2) safeguard the clean waters of the Commonwealth from pollution; (3) prevent any increase in pollution; (4) reduce existing pollution; (5) promote and encourage the reclamation and reuse of wastewater in a manner protective of the environment and public health; and (6) promote water resource conservation, management and distribution, and encourage water consumption reduction in order to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of the present and future citizens of the Commonwealth.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":13661,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13014,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:30","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:30","permalink":{"id":269171,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13661,"identifier":"1","token":"62.1\/3.1\/1","url":"\/62.1\/3.1\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13014,"edition_id":1,"name":"State Water Control Law","identifier":"3.1","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12909,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:08","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:08","permalink":{"id":269169,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13014,"identifier":"3.1","token":"62.1\/3.1","url":"\/62.1\/3.1\/","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":54640,"structure_id":13661,"section_number":"62.1-44.2","catch_line":"Short title; purpose","url":"\/62.1-44.2\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/1\/62.1-44.2","metadata":false},{"id":61187,"structure_id":13661,"section_number":"62.1-44.3","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/62.1-44.3\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/1\/62.1-44.3","metadata":false},{"id":80441,"structure_id":13661,"section_number":"62.1-44.3:1","catch_line":"Certified mail; subsequent mail or notices may be sent by regular mail","url":"\/62.1-44.3_1\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/1\/62.1-44.3_1","metadata":false},{"id":59195,"structure_id":13661,"section_number":"62.1-44.4","catch_line":"Control by Commonwealth as to water quality","url":"\/62.1-44.4\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/1\/62.1-44.4","metadata":false},{"id":55763,"structure_id":13661,"section_number":"62.1-44.5","catch_line":"Prohibition of waste discharges or other quality alterations of state waters except as authorized by permit; notification required","url":"\/62.1-44.5\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/1\/62.1-44.5","metadata":false},{"id":63321,"structure_id":13661,"section_number":"62.1-44.6","catch_line":"Chapter supplementary to existing laws","url":"\/62.1-44.6\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/1\/62.1-44.6","metadata":false},{"id":63137,"structure_id":13661,"section_number":"62.1-44.6:1","catch_line":"Permit rationale","url":"\/62.1-44.6_1\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/1\/62.1-44.6_1","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":61187,"structure_id":13661,"section_number":"62.1-44.3","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/62.1-44.3\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/1\/62.1-44.3","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/62.1-44.2\/","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 1968, chapter 659; in 1970, chapter 638; in 1978, chapter 827; in 2000, chapter 972<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":73247,"section_number":"10.1-1183","catch_line":"Creation of Department of Environmental Quality; statement of policy","order_by":null,"url":"\/10.1-1183\/"},{"id":84797,"section_number":"10.1-1232","catch_line":"Voluntary Remediation Program","order_by":null,"url":"\/10.1-1232\/"},{"id":80408,"section_number":"10.1-1233","catch_line":"Amnesty for voluntary disclosure and restoration of brownfield sites","order_by":null,"url":"\/10.1-1233\/"},{"id":71221,"section_number":"10.1-1234","catch_line":"Limitations on liability","order_by":null,"url":"\/10.1-1234\/"},{"id":64420,"section_number":"10.1-1235","catch_line":"Limitation on liability at remediated properties under the jurisdiction of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act","order_by":null,"url":"\/10.1-1235\/"},{"id":83638,"section_number":"10.1-1425.19","catch_line":"Inspections and enforcement actions by the Department","order_by":null,"url":"\/10.1-1425.19\/"},{"id":61698,"section_number":"10.1-2118","catch_line":"Cooperative program established","order_by":null,"url":"\/10.1-2118\/"},{"id":77386,"section_number":"10.1-2128.2","catch_line":"Nutrient Offset Fund; purposes","order_by":null,"url":"\/10.1-2128.2\/"},{"id":60869,"section_number":"15.2-2114","catch_line":"Regulation of stormwater","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2114\/"},{"id":56426,"section_number":"15.2-2114.1","catch_line":"Car-washing fundraiser","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2114.1\/"},{"id":57664,"section_number":"15.2-2121","catch_line":"Regulations as to water, sewer and other facilities in subdivisions and development plans","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2121\/"},{"id":87268,"section_number":"15.2-2122","catch_line":"Localities authorized to establish, etc., sewage disposal system; incidental powers","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2122\/"},{"id":54413,"section_number":"15.2-2126","catch_line":"Notice to governing body required prior to construction","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2126\/"},{"id":57512,"section_number":"2.2-1105","catch_line":"Environmental laboratory certification program","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-1105\/"},{"id":78729,"section_number":"2.2-4006","catch_line":"Exemptions from requirements of this article","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-4006\/"},{"id":77776,"section_number":"2.2-511","catch_line":"Criminal cases","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-511\/"},{"id":82773,"section_number":"28.2-628","catch_line":"Condemnation of oyster bottoms and grounds","order_by":null,"url":"\/28.2-628\/"},{"id":58030,"section_number":"29.1-214","catch_line":"Duties of State Water Control Board with respect to water samples","order_by":null,"url":"\/29.1-214\/"},{"id":66759,"section_number":"32.1-164","catch_line":"Powers and duties of Board; regulations; fees; onsite soil evaluators; letters in lieu of permits; inspections; civil penalties","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-164\/"},{"id":65795,"section_number":"45.2-1029","catch_line":" National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits","order_by":null,"url":"\/45.2-1029\/"},{"id":62123,"section_number":"46.2-1212.1","catch_line":"Authority to provide for removal and disposition of vehicles and cargoes of vehicles involved in accidents","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-1212.1\/"},{"id":74335,"section_number":"56-265.10","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-265.10\/"},{"id":80022,"section_number":"62.1-199","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/62.1-199\/"},{"id":59486,"section_number":"62.1-229.4","catch_line":"Loans for stormwater runoff control best management practices","order_by":null,"url":"\/62.1-229.4\/"},{"id":61921,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:37.1","catch_line":"Inspections; land-disturbing activities of natural gas pipelines; stop work instructions","order_by":null,"url":"\/62.1-44.15_37.1\/"},{"id":68747,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:58.1","catch_line":"Inspections; land-disturbing activities of natural gas pipelines; stop work instructions","order_by":null,"url":"\/62.1-44.15_58.1\/"},{"id":67075,"section_number":"62.1-69","catch_line":"Duties of Commission; powers and duties of Water Control Board not affected; dams or structures for production of electric power","order_by":null,"url":"\/62.1-69\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":269173,"object_type":"law","relational_id":54640,"identifier":"62.1-44.2","token":"62.1\/3.1\/1\/62.1-44.2","url":"\/62.1-44.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/62.1-44.2\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/1\/62.1-44.2","dublin_core":{"Title":"Short title; purpose","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 62.1-44.2","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

The short title of this chapter is the State Water Control Law. It is the policy of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the purpose of this law<\/span> to: (1) protect existing high quality state waters<\/span> and restore all other state waters<\/span> to such condition of quality that any such waters will permit all reasonable public uses and will support the propagation and growth of all aquatic life, including game fish, which might reasonably be expected to inhabit them; (2) safeguard the clean waters of the Commonwealth from pollution<\/span>; (3) prevent any increase in pollution<\/span>; (4) reduce existing pollution<\/span>; (5) promote and encourage the reclamation<\/span> and reuse<\/span> of wastewater in a manner protective of the environment and public health; and (6) promote water resource conservation, management and distribution, and encourage water consumption reduction in order<\/span> to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of the present and future citizens of the Commonwealth.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nSHORT TITLE; PURPOSE (\u00a7 62.1-44.2)\n\nThe short title of this chapter is the State Water Control Law. It is the policy\nof the Commonwealth of Virginia and the purpose of this law to: (1) protect\nexisting high quality state waters and restore all other state waters to such\ncondition of quality that any such waters will permit all reasonable public uses\nand will support the propagation and growth of all aquatic life, including game\nfish, which might reasonably be expected to inhabit them; (2) safeguard the\nclean waters of the Commonwealth from pollution; (3) prevent any increase in\npollution; (4) reduce existing pollution; (5) promote and encourage the\nreclamation and reuse of wastewater in a manner protective of the environment\nand public health; and (6) promote water resource conservation, management and\ndistribution, and encourage water consumption reduction in order to provide for\nthe health, safety, and welfare of the present and future citizens of the\nCommonwealth.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 62.1-14; 1968, c. 659; 1970, c. 638; 1978, c. 827; 2000,\nc. 972.","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}}