{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/62.1-44.4.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/62.1-44.4.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/62.1-44.4.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/62.1-44.4.html"}],"law_id":59195,"edition_id":1,"section_id":59195,"structure_id":13661,"section_number":"62.1-44.4","catch_line":"Control by Commonwealth as to water quality","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 62.1-16; 1968, c. 659; 1970, c. 638.","full_text":"1\n\nNo right to continue existing quality degradation in any state water shall exist nor shall such right be or be deemed to have been acquired by virtue of past or future discharge of sewage, industrial wastes or other wastes or other action by any owner. The right and control of the Commonwealth in and over all state waters is hereby expressly reserved and reaffirmed.2\n\nWaters whose existing quality is better than the established standards as of the date on which such standards become effective will be maintained at high quality; provided that the Board has the power to authorize any project or development, which would constitute a new or an increased discharge of effluent to high quality water, when it has been affirmatively demonstrated that a change is justifiable to provide necessary economic or social development; and provided, further, that the necessary degree of waste treatment to maintain high water quality will be required where physically and economically feasible. Present and anticipated use of such waters will be preserved and protected.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":217000,"text":"No right to continue existing quality degradation in any state water shall exist nor shall such right be or be deemed to have been acquired by virtue of past or future discharge of sewage, industrial wastes or other wastes or other action by any owner. The right and control of the Commonwealth in and over all state waters is hereby expressly reserved and reaffirmed.","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"next_prefix":"2"},"1":{"id":217001,"text":"Waters whose existing quality is better than the established standards as of the date on which such standards become effective will be maintained at high quality; provided that the Board has the power to authorize any project or development, which would constitute a new or an increased discharge of effluent to high quality water, when it has been affirmatively demonstrated that a change is justifiable to provide necessary economic or social development; and provided, further, that the necessary degree of waste treatment to maintain high water quality will be required where physically and economically feasible. Present and anticipated use of such waters will be preserved and protected.","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"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}],"previous_section":{"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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/62.1-44.4\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 2 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.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":269185,"object_type":"law","relational_id":59195,"identifier":"62.1-44.4","token":"62.1\/3.1\/1\/62.1-44.4","url":"\/62.1-44.4\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/62.1-44.4\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/1\/62.1-44.4","dublin_core":{"Title":"Control by Commonwealth as to water quality","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 62.1-44.4","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> No right to continue existing quality degradation in any state water shall exist nor shall such right be or be deemed to have been acquired by virtue of past or future discharge of sewage<\/span>, industrial wastes<\/span> or other wastes<\/span> or other action by any owner<\/span>. The right and control of the Commonwealth in and over all state waters<\/span> is hereby expressly reserved and reaffirmed. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Waters whose existing quality is better than the established standards<\/span> as of the date on which such standards<\/span> become effective will be maintained at high quality; provided that the Board<\/span> has the power to authorize any project or development, which would constitute a new or an increased discharge of effluent to high quality water, when it has been affirmatively demonstrated that a change is justifiable to provide necessary economic or social development; and provided, further, that the necessary degree of waste treatment to maintain high water quality will be required where physically and economically feasible. Present and anticipated use of such waters will be preserved and protected. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCONTROL BY COMMONWEALTH AS TO WATER QUALITY (\u00a7 62.1-44.4)\n\n1. No right to continue existing quality degradation in any state water shall\nexist nor shall such right be or be deemed to have been acquired by virtue of\npast or future discharge of sewage, industrial wastes or other wastes or other\naction by any owner. The right and control of the Commonwealth in and over all\nstate waters is hereby expressly reserved and reaffirmed.\n\n2. Waters whose existing quality is better than the established standards as of\nthe date on which such standards become effective will be maintained at high\nquality; provided that the Board has the power to authorize any project or\ndevelopment, which would constitute a new or an increased discharge of effluent\nto high quality water, when it has been affirmatively demonstrated that a change\nis justifiable to provide necessary economic or social development; and\nprovided, further, that the necessary degree of waste treatment to maintain high\nwater quality will be required where physically and economically feasible.\nPresent and anticipated use of such waters will be preserved and protected.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 62.1-16; 1968, c. 659; 1970, c. 638.","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}}