                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

RESPONSIBILITY OF STATE WATER CONTROL BOARD; FORMULATION OF POLICY (§
62.1-44.36)

Being cognizant of the crucial importance of the Commonwealth&#8217;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&#8217;s water resources.
		The 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&#8217;s water resources policy, the Board shall, among other
things, take into consideration the following principles and policies:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. The maintenance of stream flows sufficient to support aquatic life and to
minimize pollution shall be fostered and encouraged.

6. 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.

7. Due regard shall be given in the planning and development of water recreation
facilities to safeguard against pollution.
			The statement of water resource policy shall be revised from time to time
whenever the Board determines it to be in the public interest.
			The 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.

HISTORY: Code 1950, § 10-17.1; 1966, c. 561; 1972, c. 728; 2020, c. 1105.