                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

CONTROL BY COMMONWEALTH AS TO WATER QUALITY (§ 62.1-44.4)

1. 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.

2. 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.

HISTORY: Code 1950, § 62.1-16; 1968, c. 659; 1970, c. 638.