62.1-44.4 - Control by Commonwealth as to water quality.
§ 62.1-44.4. Control by Commonwealth as to water quality.
(1) No right to continue existing quality degradation in any state watershall exist nor shall such right be or be deemed to have been acquired byvirtue of past or future discharge of sewage, industrial wastes or otherwastes or other action by any owner. The right and control of theCommonwealth in and over all state waters is hereby expressly reserved andreaffirmed.
(2) Waters whose existing quality is better than the established standards asof the date on which such standards become effective will be maintained athigh quality; provided that the Board has the power to authorize any projector development, which would constitute a new or an increased discharge ofeffluent to high quality water, when it has been affirmatively demonstratedthat a change is justifiable to provide necessary economic or socialdevelopment; and provided, further, that the necessary degree of wastetreatment to maintain high water quality will be required where physicallyand economically feasible. Present and anticipated use of such waters will bepreserved and protected.
(Code 1950, § 62.1-16; 1968, c. 659; 1970, c. 638.)