Meghan Hodges
Virginia's waterways are suffering from high levels of toxic pollution, with industrial facilities dumping over 18 million pounds of toxic chemicals into them every year, making it the second-worst state in the nation for toxic chemical dumping. The most polluted waterway in Virginia is the New River, which saw the highest volume of toxic pollution in the state, with over 12 million pounds dumped into its waters. The Upper Roanoke watershed is ranked second-worst in the nation for the highest total toxic discharges, with Richmond's James River also seeing over 1.1 million pounds of toxic pollution in 2010. The Elizabeth River has also been singled out as one of the most polluted bodies of water in the Bay watershed, with sediment contamination creating toxic hotspots within the river.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Most polluted waterway in Virginia | Elizabeth River |
| Length | 6-mile-long (10 km) tidal estuary |
| Location | Southeast Virginia |
| History | Various industrial sites, dry docks, sewage, and stormwater discharge |
| Pollution sources | Sediment contamination, toxic chemicals, human waste, trash, and agricultural runoff |
| Health impacts | Cancer-causing chemicals, harmful to human and environmental health |
| Efforts to improve | Dredging and restoration, vegetation and artificial oyster reefs, environmental advocacy |
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What You'll Learn
The New River is the most polluted waterway in Virginia
Virginia's waterways are suffering from toxic pollution, with industrial facilities dumping over 18 million pounds of toxic chemicals into them, making it the second-worst state for toxic chemical dumping in the US. The New River is the most polluted waterway in Virginia, with over 12 million pounds of toxic chemicals dumped into its waters.
The New River was ranked as the third most contaminated waterway in the United States in 2012, primarily due to nitrates released by the Radford Army Ammunition Plant. The facility produces propellants for military artillery, cannon, and mortar projectiles. The site was chosen in 1940, in preparation for World War Two, due to its access to water and raw materials, as well as its distance from the Atlantic Ocean and potential enemy attacks. While the Radford Army Ammunition Plant has reduced its release of nitrates, the New River remains highly polluted.
Virginia's Upper Roanoke watershed is ranked as the second-worst in the nation for total toxic discharges, with Richmond's James River also seeing over 1.1 million pounds of toxic pollution in 2010. The Chesapeake Bay, a particularly important water resource for Virginia, has been plagued by agricultural and suburban runoff, leading to an increase in algae and dead zones that kill marine life.
The state has implemented strategies to combat this pollution, such as the Clean Water Act and the Virginia Watershed Implementation Plans, which aim to reduce pollution and restore waterways. However, without better legislation and dedicated work from environmentalists, pollution will continue to be a problem for Virginia's waterways.
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Pollution from industrial facilities
Virginia's waterways have been contaminated with toxic chemicals, with industrial facilities dumping over 18 million pounds of toxins into them, making it the second-worst state in the nation for toxic chemical dumping. The New River, in particular, has suffered from significant pollution, with over 12 million pounds of toxic chemicals dumped into its waters. This river was ranked as the third most contaminated waterway in the United States in 2012, largely due to nitrates released by the Radford Army Ammunition Plant.
The Radford Army Ammunition Plant was established in 1940 in preparation for World War II. The site was chosen for its access to water and raw materials, as well as its distance from the Atlantic Ocean, which provided protection from potential enemy attacks. While the facility has since reduced its release of nitrates, the New River remains heavily polluted.
Virginia's Upper Roanoke watershed is another heavily affected area, ranked as the second-worst in the nation for total toxic discharges, with over 12 million pounds of toxins released in 2010. Richmond's James River also saw more than 1.1 million pounds of toxic pollution in the same year.
The pollution in these waterways has had significant environmental and health impacts. For instance, the Shenandoah River has been contaminated with mercury, PCB, and other toxic chemicals, rendering fish from over 100 miles of the river unsafe for consumption.
To address this issue, Environment Virginia has made several recommendations:
- Pollution Prevention: Industrial facilities should switch from hazardous chemicals to safer alternatives to reduce their toxic discharges.
- Protection of All Waters: Guidelines should be finalized to ensure that the Clean Water Act applies to all waterways in Virginia, including streams and drinking water sources.
- Tough Permitting and Enforcement: EPA and state agencies should issue permits with strict limits on each type of toxic pollution discharged, gradually reducing these limits and enforcing them with penalties.
Virginia's Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) plays a crucial role in controlling and mitigating pollution in the state's surface waters. They employ various measures, including the issuance of permits that govern the discharge of pollutants, assistance with the upgrade of wastewater treatment facilities, and the awarding of grants to support incentive-based Best Management Practices (BMPs) implementation.
Despite these efforts, Virginia's waterways continue to be impaired, with high levels of pollutants that affect their suitability for recreation, fish consumption, and aquatic life.
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Pollution from sewage and stormwater
Virginia's waterways have been described as a "polluter's paradise", with industrial facilities dumping over 18 million pounds of toxic chemicals into them—the second-most in the nation. The New River, in particular, has been deemed the most polluted waterway in the state, with over 12 million pounds of toxic pollution dumped into it.
The pollution of Virginia's waterways is caused by a variety of factors, including sewage and stormwater runoff. Sewage pollution is a significant issue in the state, with unregulated sewage discharges and failing septic systems contaminating waterways such as Straight Creek, a tributary of the Powell River. This has led to excessive bacteria levels and the death of fish in the creek. Population growth has also put a strain on wastewater treatment plants, which minimize but do not eliminate contamination from sewage.
Stormwater runoff is another major contributor to water pollution in Virginia, especially in urbanized areas. Industrial activities, construction, and development all generate stormwater runoff that can contain pollutants such as pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and motor vehicle fluids. This runoff flows into local waterways, contaminating them with toxic chemicals and nutrients. To address this issue, Virginia has implemented the Virginia Stormwater Management Program (VSMP), which requires permits for stormwater discharges and the development of stormwater management programs to control and monitor the quality of stormwater discharges.
In addition to sewage and stormwater pollution, agricultural and suburban runoff is also a significant problem in Virginia, particularly in the Chesapeake Bay. This runoff contains high levels of phosphorus and nitrogen, which feed algae and create dead zones that kill marine life. The bay is an important water resource for Virginia, and efforts have been made to enact strategies to reduce pollution and improve water quality.
The Clean Water Act, passed by the US Congress in 1972, sets federal water quality standards that aim to make all waters suitable for swimming and fishing. However, enforcement of these standards has been inadequate, and Virginia's waterways continue to be impaired by pollution. To address this, Environment Virginia has made several recommendations, including pollution prevention, protection of all waters under the Clean Water Act, and tough permitting and enforcement of toxic pollution discharges.
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Chesapeake Bay pollution
Virginia's waterways are facing a serious pollution problem, with the state ranked as the second-worst in the nation for toxic chemical dumping. A report by Environment Virginia revealed that industrial facilities discharged over 18 million pounds of toxic chemicals into the state's lakes, rivers, and streams. The Chesapeake Bay, a vital water resource for Virginia, has been severely impacted by pollution, threatening the health of the ecosystem and local communities.
The bay's pollution is primarily attributed to agricultural and suburban runoff, which includes pollutants such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment. These pollutants fuel excessive algae growth, creating "dead zones" where oxygen levels are too low to support marine life. Nitrogen oxides, ammonia, and chemical contaminants from air pollution also play a significant role in the bay's declining health. Atmospheric deposition, where airborne pollutants fall into the water, accounts for about one-third of the nitrogen in the bay.
In 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set limits on nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution for the Chesapeake Bay watershed. This was done in an effort to improve water quality and restore the health of the bay and its aquatic life. The state is responsible for developing and implementing plans to achieve these limits by 2025, with the goal of reducing pollution and improving the overall health of the Chesapeake Bay.
Virginia has been working to address its water pollution issues through initiatives such as the Clean Water Act and the Watershed Implementation Plans. The Clean Water Act, passed by US Congress in 1972, aims to ensure that all waters are suitable for swimming and fishing by setting federal water quality standards. The Watershed Implementation Plans, on the other hand, focus on Virginia's portion of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, with Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) targets for each of the 35 segments to reduce stormwater runoff and manage nitrogen and phosphorus discharge.
Despite these efforts, the Chesapeake Bay continues to be impacted by pollution. The bay's health is crucial not only for the local ecosystem but also for the fishing and tourism industries that depend on it. It is important for Virginia to continue implementing effective measures to reduce pollution and restore the bay's health for future generations.
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James River pollution
The James River, a prominent landmark in Virginia, has faced a long history of pollution. The river serves as a drinking water source for 2.7 million state residents and is also used for recreational and economic activities. However, the river has been plagued by various pollutants, including human waste, trash, and chemicals, and agricultural runoff.
In 1975, three years after the Clean Water Act of 1972 was passed, dangerous levels of Kepone, a harmful insecticide, were discovered in the river. This incident led to a 13-year commercial fishing ban on the river. The James River was identified as one of the most polluted rivers in America at that time due to the illegal dumping of this toxic chemical. The river's health has improved slowly but steadily since then, thanks to the implementation of the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Agreement and technological upgrades to wastewater treatment plants.
Despite these improvements, the James River continues to face pollution risks. Up to 1,100 toxic storage sites, 5 billion gallons of coal ash, and millions of gallons of crude oil traveling along the shore each week pose significant threats. Additionally, stormwater runoff, sewage overflow, and agricultural runoff continue to contribute to the river's pollution.
To address these issues, various strategies have been implemented. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has initiated the dewatering process for coal ash ponds at power stations, and Dominion has committed to installing enhanced treatment for coal ash wastewater to meet water quality standards before discharge into the James River. Local cities have also developed strategies to manage stormwater, and trees have been planted along the waterway to help control erosion and improve water quality.
The efforts to restore the health of the James River are ongoing, and it is essential to continue protecting this valuable natural resource for future generations.
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Frequently asked questions
The Elizabeth River is one of the most polluted waterways in Virginia. Its history with various industrial sites, such as dry docks, has contributed to the declining health of the river.
The Elizabeth River's industrial history has resulted in sediment contamination, creating "toxic hot spots". A major fire in 1963 and the dumping of creosote also played a role in contaminating the river sediment.
The Upper Roanoke watershed is ranked as the second-worst in the nation for total toxic discharges, with over 12 million pounds discharged in 2010.
Virginia has implemented a set of strategies to combat pollution in waterways such as Chesapeake Bay. The state has also invested in programs that reduce pollution from cities, suburbs, farms, and sewage treatment plants.
