{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/62.1-44.36.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/62.1-44.36.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/62.1-44.36.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/62.1-44.36.html"}],"law_id":70308,"edition_id":1,"section_id":70308,"structure_id":15671,"section_number":"62.1-44.36","catch_line":"Responsibility of State Water Control Board; formulation of policy","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 10-17.1; 1966, c. 561; 1972, c. 728; 2020, c. 1105.","full_text":"Being cognizant of the crucial importance of the Commonwealth’s water resources to the health and welfare of the people of Virginia and of the need of a water supply to assure further industrial growth and economic prosperity for the Commonwealth, and recognizing the necessity for continuous cooperative planning and effective state-level guidance in the use of water resources, the State Water Control Board is assigned the responsibility for planning the development, conservation and utilization of Virginia’s water resources.\n\t\tThe Board shall continue the study of existing water resources of the Commonwealth, means and methods of conserving and augmenting such water resources, and existing and contemplated uses and needs of water for all purposes. Based upon these studies and policies that have been initiated by the Division of Water Resources, and after an opportunity has been given to all concerned state agencies and political subdivisions to be heard, the Board shall formulate a coordinated policy for the use and control of all the water resources of the Commonwealth and issue a statement thereof. In formulating the Commonwealth’s water resources policy, the Board shall, among other things, take into consideration the following principles and policies:\n\n1\n\nExisting water rights are to be protected and preserved subject to the principle that all of the state waters belong to the public for use by the people for beneficial purposes without waste.2\n\nAdequate and safe supplies shall be preserved and protected for human consumption, while conserving maximum supplies for other beneficial uses. When proposed uses of water are in mutually exclusive conflict or when available supplies of water are insufficient for all who desire to use them, preference shall be given to human consumption purposes over all other uses.3\n\nIt is in the public interest that integration and coordination of uses of water, especially by localities with shared water supplies, and augmentation of existing supplies for all beneficial purposes be achieved for the maximum economic development thereof for the benefit of the Commonwealth as a whole.4\n\nIn considering the benefits to be derived from drainage, consideration shall also be given to possible harmful effects upon ground water supplies and protection of wildlife.5\n\nThe maintenance of stream flows sufficient to support aquatic life and to minimize pollution shall be fostered and encouraged.6\n\nWatershed development policies shall be favored, whenever possible, for the preservation of balanced multiple uses, and project construction and planning with those ends in view shall be encouraged.7\n\nDue regard shall be given in the planning and development of water recreation facilities to safeguard against pollution.\n\t\t\tThe statement of water resource policy shall be revised from time to time whenever the Board determines it to be in the public interest.\n\t\t\tThe initial statement of state water resource policy and any subsequent revisions thereof shall be furnished by the Board to all state agencies and to all political subdivisions of the Commonwealth.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":253834,"text":"Being cognizant of the crucial importance of the Commonwealth’s water resources to the health and welfare of the people of Virginia and of the need of a water supply to assure further industrial growth and economic prosperity for the Commonwealth, and recognizing the necessity for continuous cooperative planning and effective state-level guidance in the use of water resources, the State Water Control Board is assigned the responsibility for planning the development, conservation and utilization of Virginia’s water resources.\n\t\tThe Board shall continue the study of existing water resources of the Commonwealth, means and methods of conserving and augmenting such water resources, and existing and contemplated uses and needs of water for all purposes. Based upon these studies and policies that have been initiated by the Division of Water Resources, and after an opportunity has been given to all concerned state agencies and political subdivisions to be heard, the Board shall formulate a coordinated policy for the use and control of all the water resources of the Commonwealth and issue a statement thereof. In formulating the Commonwealth’s water resources policy, the Board shall, among other things, take into consideration the following principles and policies:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":253835,"text":"Existing water rights are to be protected and preserved subject to the principle that all of the state waters belong to the public for use by the people for beneficial purposes without waste.","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":253836,"text":"Adequate and safe supplies shall be preserved and protected for human consumption, while conserving maximum supplies for other beneficial uses. When proposed uses of water are in mutually exclusive conflict or when available supplies of water are insufficient for all who desire to use them, preference shall be given to human consumption purposes over all other uses.","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":253837,"text":"It is in the public interest that integration and coordination of uses of water, especially by localities with shared water supplies, and augmentation of existing supplies for all beneficial purposes be achieved for the maximum economic development thereof for the benefit of the Commonwealth as a whole.","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"4":{"id":253838,"text":"In considering the benefits to be derived from drainage, consideration shall also be given to possible harmful effects upon ground water supplies and protection of wildlife.","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3","next_prefix":"5"},"5":{"id":253839,"text":"The maintenance of stream flows sufficient to support aquatic life and to minimize pollution shall be fostered and encouraged.","type":"section","prefixes":["5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"5","prefix_anchor":"5","level":1,"prior_prefix":"4","next_prefix":"6"},"6":{"id":253840,"text":"Watershed development policies shall be favored, whenever possible, for the preservation of balanced multiple uses, and project construction and planning with those ends in view shall be encouraged.","type":"section","prefixes":["6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"6","prefix_anchor":"6","level":1,"prior_prefix":"5","next_prefix":"7"},"7":{"id":253841,"text":"Due regard shall be given in the planning and development of water recreation facilities to safeguard against pollution.\n\t\t\tThe statement of water resource policy shall be revised from time to time whenever the Board determines it to be in the public interest.\n\t\t\tThe initial statement of state water resource policy and any subsequent revisions thereof shall be furnished by the Board to all state agencies and to all political subdivisions of the Commonwealth.","type":"section","prefixes":["7"],"prefix":"7","entire_prefix":"7","prefix_anchor":"7","level":1,"prior_prefix":"6"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15671,"edition_id":1,"name":"Conservation of Water Resources; State Water Control Board","identifier":"3.2","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12909,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:57:40","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:57:40","permalink":{"id":270053,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15671,"identifier":"3.2","token":"62.1\/3.2","url":"\/62.1\/3.2\/","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":60744,"structure_id":15671,"section_number":"62.1-44.35","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/62.1-44.35\/","token":"62.1\/3.2\/62.1-44.35","metadata":false},{"id":70308,"structure_id":15671,"section_number":"62.1-44.36","catch_line":"Responsibility of State Water Control Board; formulation of policy","url":"\/62.1-44.36\/","token":"62.1\/3.2\/62.1-44.36","metadata":false},{"id":59983,"structure_id":15671,"section_number":"62.1-44.37","catch_line":"Resolution of conflicts as to water use; public hearings","url":"\/62.1-44.37\/","token":"62.1\/3.2\/62.1-44.37","metadata":false},{"id":79402,"structure_id":15671,"section_number":"62.1-44.38","catch_line":"Plans and programs; registration of certain data by water users; advisory committees; committee membership for federal, state, and local agencies; water supply planning assistance","url":"\/62.1-44.38\/","token":"62.1\/3.2\/62.1-44.38","metadata":false},{"id":70785,"structure_id":15671,"section_number":"62.1-44.38:1","catch_line":"Comprehensive water supply planning process; state, regional, and local water supply plans","url":"\/62.1-44.38_1\/","token":"62.1\/3.2\/62.1-44.38_1","metadata":false},{"id":59960,"structure_id":15671,"section_number":"62.1-44.38:2","catch_line":"Expired","url":"\/62.1-44.38_2\/","token":"62.1\/3.2\/62.1-44.38_2","metadata":false},{"id":69693,"structure_id":15671,"section_number":"62.1-44.39","catch_line":"Technical advice and information to be made available","url":"\/62.1-44.39\/","token":"62.1\/3.2\/62.1-44.39","metadata":false},{"id":83083,"structure_id":15671,"section_number":"62.1-44.40","catch_line":"Governor and General Assembly to be advised; annual report","url":"\/62.1-44.40\/","token":"62.1\/3.2\/62.1-44.40","metadata":false},{"id":62059,"structure_id":15671,"section_number":"62.1-44.41","catch_line":"Board authorized to speak and act for Commonwealth","url":"\/62.1-44.41\/","token":"62.1\/3.2\/62.1-44.41","metadata":false},{"id":71842,"structure_id":15671,"section_number":"62.1-44.42","catch_line":"Cooperation with other agencies","url":"\/62.1-44.42\/","token":"62.1\/3.2\/62.1-44.42","metadata":false},{"id":64691,"structure_id":15671,"section_number":"62.1-44.43","catch_line":"Additional powers of Board","url":"\/62.1-44.43\/","token":"62.1\/3.2\/62.1-44.43","metadata":false},{"id":82952,"structure_id":15671,"section_number":"62.1-44.44","catch_line":"Construction of chapter","url":"\/62.1-44.44\/","token":"62.1\/3.2\/62.1-44.44","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":60744,"structure_id":15671,"section_number":"62.1-44.35","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/62.1-44.35\/","token":"62.1\/3.2\/62.1-44.35","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":59983,"structure_id":15671,"section_number":"62.1-44.37","catch_line":"Resolution of conflicts as to water use; public hearings","url":"\/62.1-44.37\/","token":"62.1\/3.2\/62.1-44.37","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/62.1-44.36\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 3 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 1966, chapter 561; in 1972, chapter 728; in 2020, chapter 1105<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":64691,"section_number":"62.1-44.43","catch_line":"Additional powers of Board","order_by":null,"url":"\/62.1-44.43\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":270059,"object_type":"law","relational_id":70308,"identifier":"62.1-44.36","token":"62.1\/3.2\/62.1-44.36","url":"\/62.1-44.36\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/62.1-44.36\/","token":"62.1\/3.2\/62.1-44.36","dublin_core":{"Title":"Responsibility of State Water Control Board; formulation of policy","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 62.1-44.36","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Being cognizant of the crucial importance of the Commonwealth’s water resources to the health and welfare of the people of Virginia and of the need of a water supply to assure further industrial growth and economic prosperity for the Commonwealth, and recognizing the necessity for continuous cooperative planning and effective state-level guidance in the use of water resources, the State Water Control Board is assigned the responsibility for planning the development, conservation and utilization of Virginia’s water resources.\n\t\tThe Board shall continue the study of existing water resources of the Commonwealth, means and methods of conserving and augmenting such water resources, and existing and contemplated uses and needs of water for all purposes. Based upon these studies and policies that have been initiated by the Division of Water Resources, and after an opportunity has been given to all concerned state agencies and political subdivisions to be heard, the Board shall formulate a coordinated policy for the use and control of all the water resources of the Commonwealth and issue<\/span> a statement thereof. In formulating the Commonwealth’s water resources policy, the Board shall, among other things, take into consideration the following principles and policies:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Existing water rights are to be protected and preserved subject to the principle that all of the state waters belong to the public for use by the people for beneficial purposes without waste. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Adequate and safe supplies shall be preserved and protected for human consumption, while conserving maximum supplies for other beneficial uses. When proposed uses of water are in mutually exclusive conflict or when available supplies of water are insufficient for all who desire to use them, preference shall be given to human consumption purposes over all other uses. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> It is in the public interest that integration and coordination of uses of water, especially by localities with shared water supplies, and augmentation of existing supplies for all beneficial purposes be achieved for the maximum economic development thereof for the benefit of the Commonwealth as a whole. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> In considering the benefits to be derived from drainage, consideration shall also be given to possible harmful effects upon ground water supplies and protection of wildlife. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> The maintenance of stream flows sufficient to support aquatic life and to minimize pollution shall be fostered and encouraged. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> Watershed development policies shall be favored, whenever possible, for the preservation of balanced multiple uses, and project construction and planning with those ends in view shall be encouraged. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

7.<\/span> Due regard shall be given in the planning and development of water recreation facilities to safeguard against pollution.\n\t\t\tThe statement of water resource policy shall be revised from time to time whenever the Board determines it to be in the public interest.\n\t\t\tThe initial statement of state water resource policy and any subsequent revisions thereof shall be furnished by the Board to all state agencies and to all political subdivisions of the Commonwealth. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nRESPONSIBILITY OF STATE WATER CONTROL BOARD; FORMULATION OF POLICY (\u00a7\n62.1-44.36)\n\nBeing cognizant of the crucial importance of the Commonwealth’s water\nresources to the health and welfare of the people of Virginia and of the need of\na water supply to assure further industrial growth and economic prosperity for\nthe Commonwealth, and recognizing the necessity for continuous cooperative\nplanning and effective state-level guidance in the use of water resources, the\nState Water Control Board is assigned the responsibility for planning the\ndevelopment, conservation and utilization of Virginia’s water resources.\n\t\tThe Board shall continue the study of existing water resources of the\nCommonwealth, means and methods of conserving and augmenting such water\nresources, and existing and contemplated uses and needs of water for all\npurposes. Based upon these studies and policies that have been initiated by the\nDivision of Water Resources, and after an opportunity has been given to all\nconcerned state agencies and political subdivisions to be heard, the Board shall\nformulate a coordinated policy for the use and control of all the water\nresources of the Commonwealth and issue a statement thereof. In formulating the\nCommonwealth’s water resources policy, the Board shall, among other\nthings, take into consideration the following principles and policies:\n\n1. Existing water rights are to be protected and preserved subject to the\nprinciple that all of the state waters belong to the public for use by the\npeople for beneficial purposes without waste.\n\n2. Adequate and safe supplies shall be preserved and protected for human\nconsumption, while conserving maximum supplies for other beneficial uses. When\nproposed uses of water are in mutually exclusive conflict or when available\nsupplies of water are insufficient for all who desire to use them, preference\nshall be given to human consumption purposes over all other uses.\n\n3. It is in the public interest that integration and coordination of uses of\nwater, especially by localities with shared water supplies, and augmentation of\nexisting supplies for all beneficial purposes be achieved for the maximum\neconomic development thereof for the benefit of the Commonwealth as a whole.\n\n4. In considering the benefits to be derived from drainage, consideration shall\nalso be given to possible harmful effects upon ground water supplies and\nprotection of wildlife.\n\n5. The maintenance of stream flows sufficient to support aquatic life and to\nminimize pollution shall be fostered and encouraged.\n\n6. Watershed development policies shall be favored, whenever possible, for the\npreservation of balanced multiple uses, and project construction and planning\nwith those ends in view shall be encouraged.\n\n7. Due regard shall be given in the planning and development of water recreation\nfacilities to safeguard against pollution.\n\t\t\tThe statement of water resource policy shall be revised from time to time\nwhenever the Board determines it to be in the public interest.\n\t\t\tThe initial statement of state water resource policy and any subsequent\nrevisions thereof shall be furnished by the Board to all state agencies and to\nall political subdivisions of the Commonwealth.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 10-17.1; 1966, c. 561; 1972, c. 728; 2020, c. 1105.","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}}