Improving Water Quality
To comply with the Clean Water Act (CWA), the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) tests the quality of our waters. During the Water Quality Assessment process, it is determined if the water is clean enough for swimming, fishing, and other uses. If not, DEQ identifies the location, the concern, and the likely sources. Over the long term, DEQ, in cooperation with many other state and federal agencies, must develop and implement cleanup plans to restore the health of these listed streams.