The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is announcing the availability of the 2025 Water Quality Monitoring Plan, and requests nominations of water bodies for inclusion in the 2026 Monitoring plan. The 2025 Monitoring Plan is now available on the agency’s website at:  

https://www.deq.virginia.gov/our-programs/water/water-quality/monitoring/water-quality-monitoring-plan .  An overview map showing each of the 2025 monitoring stations and the monitoring activities to occur at each station will be added to the agency’s Environmental Data Mapper in February.  To nominate water bodies for monitoring, please follow the instructions in the agency’s nomination form, located at: https://www.deq.virginia.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/4344/638718402131230000 .  

BACKGROUND: 

Every year, DEQ staff from central office and the agency’s six regional offices collect water samples for testing at more than 1,000 locations across the commonwealth.  The agency’s various monitoring activities for each calendar year are outlined in the annual statewide Water Quality Monitoring Plan. 

2025 Water Quality Monitoring Plan: 

The 2025 Monitoring Plan summarizes DEQ’s water quality monitoring activities to be conducted from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, and is developed for the purpose of implementing the goals and objectives of DEQ’s 2022 Water Quality Monitoring Strategy[1]. This water quality information is presented in compliance with the Virginia Water Quality Monitoring, Information and Restoration Act (§ 62.1-44.19:5).  The Monitoring Plan contains detailed information on DEQ’s monitoring activities including the station locations, specific conditions, frequency of monitoring and costs. 

Nominations for water quality monitoring: 

In accordance with § 62.1-44.19:5, any person may request that a specific body of water be included in DEQ's annual water quality monitoring plan. Such requests shall include, at a minimum (i) a geographical description of the water body recommended for monitoring; (ii) the reason the monitoring is requested, and (iii) any water quality data that the petitioner may have collected or compiled. Each request received by April 30th shall be reviewed when DEQ develops the annual water quality monitoring plan for the following calendar year. DEQ will respond in writing on its approval or denial of each nomination by August 31st. 

CONTACTS FOR MORE INFORMATION: 

For more information on the 2025 Water Quality Monitoring Plan please contact Andrew Garey (andrew.garey@deq.virginia.gov; 804-659-2673) or Sandra Mueller (sandra.mueller@deq.virginia.gov; 804-659-1388).  For more information on nominating water bodies for monitoring, please contact Meighan Wisswell (citizenwater@deq.virginia.gov; 571-886-6494). Additional information is also available on DEQ’s Water Quality Monitoring website at:   

https://www.deq.virginia.gov/our-programs/water/water-quality/monitoring