Reports, Virginia Water Resources Research Center
Permanent URI for this collection
Browse
Recent Submissions
- Water and Virginia Tribal CommunitiesTallas, Nizhoni (Virginia Water Resources Research Center, 2020)This brochure discusses the history, cultural significance, and issues surrounding water and Virginia Tribal Communities.
- Waste Management and Water Resources: A Problem That Can't be Swept Under the RugWeigman, Diana L.; Kroehler, Carolyn J. (Virginia Water Resources Research Center, 1990)Poorly planned and managed solid waste disposal, facilities have contaminated surface water and ground water in Virginia and across the nation. According to 1988 calculations, an estimated 27,000 tons per day of solid waste are produced in the Commonwealth. Virginia has designated new more stringent, solid waste management regulations, and it has adopted a resource discovery program that focuses on waste as a valuable resource. Under this innovative program, planning, source reduction, reuse and recycling have higher priority than existing programs in the state for incineration and landfilling. This publication describes Virginia's waste management plans and their potential for protecting the states water resources.
- Virginia's GroundwaterVirginia Water Resources Research Center (Virginia Water Resources Research Center, 1994)This brochure discusses Virginia's ground water. It explains the importance of ground water; the ground water in different physiographic provinces around the state; and how it can be affected by septic systems, pesticides, underground storage tanks, bulk storage, waste, disposal, abandoned wells, nutrients, mining, and saltwater intrusion.
- Springs of Virginia: A Guide to Spring Management and ProtectionWeigman, Diana L.; Helfrich, Louis A.; Ferguson, Mark T.; Speenburgh, Renee M. (Virginia Water Resources Research Center and Virginia Tech, 1992-07)This booklet discusses the springs of Virginia. Topics discussed include locating springs; historical importance of springs; geology; spring flow; contamination and water quality; and where to find help and advice for spring related problems.
- Protecting Virginia's Ground WaterVirginia Water Resources Research Center (Virginia Water Resources Research Center, 1997)This brochure discusses Virginia's ground water and how to protect it from pollution. The brochure covers saltwater intrusion, septic systems, pesticide, underground storage tanks, waste disposal, abandoned or improperly constructed well, mining, and nutrients.
- Moccasin Creek: A Natural TreasureWeigmann, Diana L. (Virginia Water Resources Research Center, Virginia Tech, and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, 1995-05)This booklet discusses many aspects of Moccasin Creek in VA: the human activity, karst landscape, animals, water quality, stream corridor management, and pesticide and nutrient management.
- Instructor's Guide to Sandcastle Moats and Petunia Bed HolesSevebeck, Kathryn P.; Nickinson, Pat (Virginia Water Resources Research Center, 1986)The primary aims of Sandcastle Moats and Petunia Bed Holes are to help users understand 1 ) what groundwater is and how it is part of the hydrologic cycle; 2) how groundwater is stored, purified, or contaminated; 3) the five physiographic regions in Virginia that store groundwater; and 4) the everyday activities that help protect this hidden resource. The booklet is designed to be used with middle school students (age 12 and above) in a variety of ways, including: 1. to supplement or complement existing program and curriculum materials; 2 . as a resource or instructional aid for special study groups, science fair participants, or individuals interested in the conservation o f natural resources; 3. as a reference for individuals and groups interested in information on Virginia's groundwater and personal strategies for helping to maintain adequate, usable supplies of clean water.
- A Guide to the National Drinking Water Standards and Private Water SystemsPoff, Judy A.; Kroehler, Carolyn J. (Virginia Tech, 1999)The purpose of this booklet is to provide general information about drinking water, contaminants, the national drinking water, standards, and home water treatment systems. Private water system users can use this information to determine what step should be taken if they suspect a problem with their drinking water.
- Facts about Virginia's GroundwaterVirginia Water Resources Research Center (1984)
- Copper Creek: A Valuable ResourceFlynn, John; Weigmann, Diana L.; Bruenderman, Sue (Virginia Tech, 1994-01)This publication introduces copper Creek watershed, and the associated human activity on the watershed, living on karst, the animals of copper Creek, water quality on copper Creek, stream corridor, management, and pesticide in nutrient management.
- A Confidence Report for Virginia's Ground WaterPoff, Judy A.; Ross, Blake (Virginia Tech, 2000-02-15)The purpose of this report is to summarize the test results for the past 10 years from the 65 counties grouped along the five distinct physiographic regions of the state. Because each physiographic region has similar ground water environments, dividing the counties along these boundary lines provides a more realistic representation of the issues surrounding the use of ground water as a source for private water supplies. Test analyses cover the health-related contaminants (Total coliform, fecal coliform/E.coli, and nitrate), as well as contaminants that affect the taste, smell, or appearance of the water. Commonly called "nuisance contaminants" these include: total dissolved solids, pH, iron, hardness, etc., and will be generally addressed as they influence the quality of water in each province.
- A Citizen's Guide to Drinking Water ContaminantsKroehler, Carolyn J. (1993)
- Virginia Water Resources Research Center Strategic Plan 2022-2026(Virginia Tech, 2021-07-28)The VWRRC 2022-2026 Strategic Plan outlines our approach to: • Strengthen and expand programs in discovery/research, learning, and outreach/engagement; • Be widely recognized for services in water-resources discovery, learning, and engagement; • Increase representational diversity and inclusiveness; and • Develop a reliable, stable, long-term funding source and administrative support that allows the VWRRC to achieve its program goals.
- Using Single Sample Information to Evaluate Criteria for Waterbody Health RiskSmith, Eric P. (Virginia Water Resources Research Center, 2015-07)Recommendations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published in 2012 for bacteria water-quality evaluation are based on criteria using a geometric mean (GM) and a statistical threshold value (STV). If the GM calculated from water samples taken at a monitoring site exceeds the recommended GM criterion or if 10% of the samples exceed the recommended STV, then the waterbody is in violation. The recommendations indicate a minimum of four samples be used for calculations. In this report, evaluation of water quality using a single sample is statistically compared to the EPA approach for waterbodies that are in compliance and for those that are not in compliance. When the waterbody is truly in compliance with the recommended GM, the probability of a false declaration (declaring the waterbody to be in violation) for the single sample approach is below 0.5 (50%) and decreases as the true GM of the waterbody decreases. When the waterbody is truly in violation, the false declaration (saying the waterbody is in compliance), as based on a single sample, decreases from 0.5 at the GM criterion to close to zero for waterbodies with GMs that are just below the STV. When multiple samples are available, the probability of declaring a waterbody to be in violation increases as a function of sample size regardless of whether or not the waterbody is truly in violation or not. Hence there is an increase in the true declaration of a violation (when the waterbody is truly in violation) as well as in the false declaration of a violation (when the waterbody is truly in compliance). Relative to the GM approach, the single sample approach will almost always have higher error rates. The EPA approach does not involve a statistical test and error rates for GMs on or near the boundary of the decision rule. For waterbodies near the criterion, false declarations do not decline sharply as a function of sample size. When the GM is equal to the numerical criterion, the probability of declaring the waterbody as a health risk when it is not is 0.5 regardless of the sample size.
- Lessons from Florida’s Experience Developing Numeric Nutrient Standards for Flowing WatersShabman, Leonard A.; Stephenson, Stephen Kurt; Nearhoof, Frank (Virginia Water Resources Research Center, 2014-09)The December 2012 report entitled Technical and Policy Considerations and Options in Assessing Nutrient Stresses on Freshwater Streams in Virginia argued that the proposed screening process by the Academic Advisory Committee (AAC) to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) was analogous to the Florida process that was then awaiting approval by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In turn the report argued, “If EPA accepts the new Florida rule, the Florida approach can be referenced as a justification for the Virginia-specific screening approach.” That same 2012 AAC report reviewed a March 16, 2011 memorandum from EPA headquarters (Nancy Stoner) on nutrient criteria development by the states and argued that the memorandum was further justification for proposing the screening approach to EPA. EPA has since approved the Florida rule for numeric criteria and has proposed rulemaking that follows the Stoner memorandum (see Appendix A). Both of these actions further justify Virginia moving forward with development of the AAC proposed screening approach. This paper updates the 2012 report by expanding upon the explanation of the EPA-approved Florida process. Based on this update, the AAC again makes the argument that DEQ rely on the precedent of the Florida approval, as well as the EPA proposed rulemaking, to promote a Virginia screening approach to EPA. However, because of differences in data availability and other state-specific circumstances, there must be differences in application between Florida and Virginia, and these differences may need to be acknowledged if DEQ approaches EPA for approval of a Virginia process. DEQ might consider continuing to engage the AAC during the next year to make modifications to the draft screening approach that will align it with the Florida model as much as possible given the reality of data limitations. The process of evaluating the applicability of the EPA-approved Florida process to Virginia’s screening approach involved engaging with Frank Nearhoof, a recently retired Florida Department of Environment Protection (FDEP) staff person who was directly involved in the design of the Florida rule. Nearhoof provided two background papers (see appendices A and B) and participated in three phone calls with the authors to review the materials included in this report. For that reason, the authors believe that the description of the Florida process is accurate. One particular feature of the Florida process needs to be emphasized: If the waterbody is covered by a nutrient TMDL then that TMDL (and any implied nutrient criteria) governs the listing and the load reduction strategy for that water. The Florida process described in the next section is for those places where there is no existing TMDL limit for nutrients.
- A “Screening Approach” for Nutrient Criteria in VirginiaZipper, Carl E. (Virginia Water Resources Research Center, 2016-06)This report provides information on development of nutrient criteria for wadeable freshwater rivers and streams.
- Emerging Contaminants in the Waters of VirginiaXia, Kang (Virginia Water Resources Research Center, 2019-10)This report details the activities and findings of the Academic Advisory Committee (ACC) to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for Section 3 of the fiscal year (FY) 2019 approved scope of work. The scope of work calls for “a literature review to inform a future monitoring strategy to assess emerging contaminants in Virginia waters.” The DEQ is considering the need to expand its monitoring strategy to evaluate the presence, magnitude, risks of, and potential abatement strategies for emerging contaminants in the waters of Virginia. To initiate work towards this endeavor, the AAC conducted a literature review to address the interest expressed by DEQ in emerging contaminants in the waters of Virginia.
- Technical And Policy Considerations And Options In Assessing Nutrient Stresses On Freshwater Streams In VirginiaZipper, Carl E.; Stephenson, Stephen Kurt; Shabman, Leonard A.; Yagow, Eugene R.; Walker, Jane L. (Virginia Water Resources Research Center, 2012-12-24)This report is prepared for the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) by the Academic Advisory Committee (AAC) to communicate perspectives of the Committee concerning nutrient criteria for freshwaters in the Commonwealth. The AAC has been advising DEQ on nutrient criteria development since 2003. Activities have included providing general advice and perspectives to initiate the process in 2003-2004; advising development of criteria for lakes and reservoirs, now completed; and advising on development of criteria for freshwater rivers and streams, ongoing. The AAC has proposed that nutrient criteria for freshwater wadeable rivers and streams be executed through what it calls the “Screening Approach.” In its June 2012 report, the AAC investigated the feasibility for application of the Screening Approach by deriving potential screening parameters from Virginia DEQ water monitoring data and by conducting a preliminary investigation of the resource requirements for implementation of the approach. Here, we provide Virginia DEQ with the Committee’s perspectives concerning scientific and policy issues and options related to application of the Screening Approach. This document is intended to serve as a supplement to the AAC’s 2012 report and is being provided at the request of Virginia DEQ. The focus of this document is nutrient criteria for freshwater wadeable rivers and streams (referred to as “streams” throughout the document) in Virginia’s Mountain and Piedmont regions.
- Report of the Academic Advisory Committee: Developing Freshwater Nutrient Criteria for Virginia’s Streams and Rivers(Virginia Water Resources Research Center, 2010-05-25)This report is a compilation of study results and three separate AAC progress reports that address three specific objectives: wadeable streams, non-wadeable streams, and downstream loading impacts of nutrients.
- December 2006 Report Of The Academic Advisory Committee To Virginia Department Of Environmental Quality: Freshwater Nutrient Criteria For Rivers And StreamsZipper, Carl E.; Yagow, Eugene R.; Walker, Jane L.; Smith, Eric P.; Shabman, Leonard A.; Smock, Leonard A.; Hershner, Carl H.; Younos, Tamim M.; Benfield, Ernest F.; Bukaveckas, Paul A.; Garman, Greg C.; Kator, Howard I.; Lung, Wu-Seng; Stephenson, Stephen Kurt (Virginia Water Resources Research Center, 2007-01-10)This report reviews activities conducted by the Academic Advisory Committee to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) between July and December 2006. Activities were conducted for the purpose of developing recommendations for DEQ regarding nutrient criteria for freshwater rivers and streams.