Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Environmental Quality
 
Board
State Water Control Board
 
chapter
Water Quality Standards [9 VAC 25 ‑ 260]
Action Rulemaking to Adopt Numeric Turbidity Criteria
Stage NOIRA
Comment Period Ended on 5/12/2021
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5/7/21  10:11 am
Commenter: Joe Howard

Turbidity Questions
 

Since turbidity is typically more of a qualitative measurement rather than a quantitative one, respective of each surface water and it's place in the watershed, will there be different turbidity requirements for different streams/rivers (i.e. the Pamunkey River always flows murky; however, the Cowpasture River does not)?  Will empirical data be gathered prior to setting river-specific standards, representing baseline turbidity for a surface water? Since flow regime and turbidity fluctuate during a rain event over the course of time, will field-sampling timelines and guidance be set to account for "first flush" runoff vs. post 24-hour runoff? Will surface water substrate and baseline sediment transport be accounted for in turbidity standards? How will turbidity requirements relate to permits for construction projects, MS4 programs, industrial sites, etc? Thank you!

CommentID: 97980