Virginia's Progress Toward Pollution Reductions in Chesapeake Bay

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation used the U.S. EPA’s bay model to estimate the pollution reductions made between 2009 and 2019 to determine if Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania are on track to meet the 2025 Clean Water Blueprint goals (formerly called the Watershed Implementation Plans), both statewide and for each sector. Excerpts from the group’s summary of Virginia's pollution-reduction progress presented below your can read their entire report at this link.

The wastewater treatment plant upgrades in Virginia (especially in our region) have kept the state on track to meet its goals so far. However, it is not enough to get us to the 2025 goals the Chesapeake Bay Foundation found that Virginia must accelerate efforts in pollution reduction from agriculture and urban/suburban runoff to stay on track to meet the 2025 goals.

Virginia’s Clean Water Blueprint (formerly called the Phase III WIP) is a roadmap for reducing the nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment pollution that is carried by stormwater and waste water into our streams and rivers to the Chesapeake Bay. The EPA has mandated pollution reductions goals and allowed Virginia and the other states to develop a roadmap for getting the job done by 2025. Our plan calls for comprehensive efforts to address agricultural pollution, including increased and more effective financial and technical support for farmers, as well as future requirements to exclude livestock from streams and improve fertilizer and manure management. The plan also proposes to address polluted runoff through improvements to post-construction standards for new developments. Finally, the plan identifies a clear pathway to reduce pollution from wastewater treatment facilities across the Commonwealth, providing reasonable assurance that the 2025 goal will be met.

The key is implementation. In the last three years Virginia passed legislation to support agricultural best management practices and appropriated funding. Still, important steps remain, including developing regulations that ensure future wastewater reductions, establishing dedicated funding for all sectors, and protecting and restoring natural filters such as forests and wetlands in a changing climate. Virginia has made tremendous progress towards improving its rivers and the Chesapeake Bay, but we need to include the requirements of the Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Blueprint into our local planning and decision making. The Commonwealth has a strong plan to make these reductions, but the plan must be implemented in each segment of the watershed. It is the only way to achieve our EPA mandated goals and clean water is critical for the health of our economy and our citizens.

Urban & Suburban Polluted Runoff

Growing urban and suburban areas contribute new polluted runoff to Virginia’s waterways, offsetting most of the progress made to control polluted runoff from existing cities and neighborhoods.

Commitment: Revise and reissue important permits to control polluted runoff from developed areas, including the Arlington Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit, Phase II MS4 General Permit, and the Construction General Permit.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation found that Virginia was behind and off track in this area.

 

Planning & Growth

Providing a clear plan to address growing sources of pollution represents a critical component of Virginia’s Clean Water Blueprint (Phase III WIP) to achieve water quality goals.  Virginia did not set any specific milestones related to growth, and this is a problem. Virginia is in danger of being off track in this area. 

 Virginia’s Clean Water Bluepint considered forecasted growth and established several goals related to accounting for additional pollution. Virginia committed to re-evaluate post-construction standards to control polluted runoff from new development, although this has not yet been initiated. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation recommends that Virginia establish milestones that specifically contemplate growth. Poultry facilities, new urban and suburban development, and solar power expansion all represent growing sources that need specific regulatory attention to ensure sustainable growth. An evaluation of new post-construction stormwater standards should be undertaken and promptly completed.

Wastewater

The wastewater sector accounts for more than 25 % of Virginia’s nitrogen pollution overall. It makes up an even larger share of pollution in the James and York river watersheds, where wastewater treatment levels lag behind other tributaries and regions. Virginia must continue cutting wastewater pollution to achieve its 2025 pollution reduction goals.

The pollution reduction targets for wastewater have already been met. Virginia could use improvements in the James and York wasterwater treatment to make up for shortfalls in other sectors to meet the Commonwealth’s goals.

Virginia still needs to finalize updates to the Watershed General Permit that will establish new pollution limits for wastewater plants in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation point out that this will incentivize further pollution reductions from wastewater plants directly and through Virginia’s strong nutrient trading program. Innovative technology, including an initiative in Hampton Roads to use treated wastewater to recharge groundwater, provides exciting potential. Plans to connect more homes to sewers and address pollution from septic tanks still need to be achieved.

Agriculture represents nearly 70 % of the remaining pollution reductions Virginia must make to meet its Blueprint goals. Virginia passed legislation that sets a clear goal to exclude cattle from all perennial streams and established an approach to evaluate the remaining work. Virginia farmers continue to implement livestock exclusion practices under the generous Cost Share Program managed by the Conservation Districts, such as fencing and streamside buffers, that are critical for improving water quality and stream health.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation still believes that Virginia must increase funding for agricultural best management practices (the Cost Share Program) and accelerate efforts to achieve its goals for excluding livestock from streams and planting streamside buffers.