Technical Bulletin #25-05, 06.09.25
Subject: New Water Quality Control Requirements for Stormwater Runoff Effective July 1, 2025
Summary:
Changes to the water quality control requirements of the Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Regulation (VESMR), adopted by the State Water Control Board (SWCB), become effective July 1, 2025. The changes impact the design of proposed land disturbing activities by reducing the allowable phosphorus load from new development from the current 0.41 pounds/acre/year to 0.26 pounds/acre/year; require use of the Virginia Runoff Reduction Method (VRRM v. 4.1) spreadsheet, effective April 27, 2024, to compute phosphorus loads; and require use of updated nonproprietary Best Management Practices (BMP) design standards and phosphorus removal efficiencies in the Virginia Stormwater Management Handbook (v. 1.1), effective, July 1, 2024. This Technical Bulletin is intended to provide guidance on the implementation of these changes and how plans submitted prior to the effective date will be handled.
Effective Date:
July 1, 2025
Background:
The Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Act and the VESMR, are the governing state law and regulation for the county’s Erosion and Stormwater Management Ordinance (Ch. 124.1). The changes to the VESMR were published in the Virginia Register of Regulations (Volume 41 Issue 10) on December 30, 2024. These changes will not be incorporated into the VESMR before the effective date. To view the changes before July 1, 2025, click here. There are other pending amendments to the VESMR, editorial in nature, that prevent the county from updating our ordinance until later this year. However, all plans submitted on or after July 1, 2025, must comply with the amended regulation.
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