Public Comments Requested For W.Va. Water Monitoring Report

Members of the public are invited to provide comments on a draft version of the state’s 2024 water quality monitoring report, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) announced Friday.

The West Virginia Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report is a document the state must compile every two years to verify it has adhered to the West Virginia Water Pollution Control Act, as well as the federal Clean Water Act. These laws regulate the discharge of pollutants into public water resources.

The draft report outlines state efforts to monitor bodies of water and document water quality for specific sites, including bodies of water that are designated as “impaired” by the WVDEP. The WVDEP monitors trends in stream and watershed conditions using its Probabilistic Monitoring Program, which is documented in the report.

Members of the public can view the draft report, interactive mapping and supplemental information through the WVDEP website.

The WVDEP will accept public comments on the report through Sept. 1 at the email depwqsas@wv.gov.

Residents can also submit comments through the mail. Mailed comments should be directed to Nick Murray with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Water and Waste Management, to the address 601 57th St. SE, Charleston, WV 25304.

For more information, visit the WVDEP website.