Water Quality
Graphs at a Glance
Discharges into the Chesapeake Bay (pounds per year)
| 2009 Baseline |
2013 Progress |
2014 Progress |
2015 Progress |
Watershed Plan Target 2017 |
Watershed Plan Target 2025 |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen | 68,127,540 | 60,860,114 | 59,023,893 | 58,763,363 | 58,803,790 | 52,587,957 | |
| Phosphorus | 8,671,812 | 7,660,214 | 6,623,916 | 6,520,982 | 7,309,951 | 6,402,043 | |
| Total Suspended Solids | 3.7 trillion | 3.58 trillion | 3.66 trillion | 3.57 trillion | 3.4 trillion | 3.25 trillion | |
| Source: Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Watershed Implementation Plans | |||||||
Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Segments in Virginia,
in Acres,
2006-2015
Blue Crab Populations in the Chesapeake Bay,
in Millions,
2007-2015
Percentage of Impaired Virginia Waterways,
by Type,
2010-2014
Percentage of Impairments Found in Virginia Rivers,
by Impairment Category,
2010-2014
Percentage of Impairments Found in Virginia Lakes and Reservoirs, by Impairment Category, 2010-2014
Percentage of Impairments Found in Virginia Bays and Estuaries, by Impairment Category, 2010-2014
Virginia Wetlands, in Millions of Acres
| 1992 | 1997 | 2002 | 2007 | 2012 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freshwater Marsh | 1.383 | 1.368 | 1.364 | 1.364 | 1.364 |
| Saltwater Marsh | 0.188 | 0.190 | 0.190 | 0.188 | 0.186 |
| Total Marsh Acreage | 1.571 | 1.558 | 1.554 | 1.552 | 1.550 |
| Source: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2012 National Resources Inventory | |||||
Water Withdrawals in Virginia, by Use Category and Source Type (in Millions of Gallons Daily)
| Water Use | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture | 24 | 30 | 31 | 33 | 33 |
| Commercial | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 15 |
| Irrigation | 35 | 29 | 30 | 19 | 30 |
| Manufacturing | 432 | 382 | 386 | 379 | 372 |
| Mining | 22 | 19 | 14 | 16 | 14 |
| Other | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Public Water Supply | 785 | 775 | 752 | 740 | 752 |
| TOTALS | 1315 | 1251 | 1228 | 1202 | 1219 |
| Source: Virginia Dept. of Environmental Quality, Water Use Data System | |||||