Data from citizens being accepted until Oct. 27
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) is compiling water quality data on the state's streams and lakes.
The WVDEP's Division of Water and Waste Management (DWWM) is collecting water quality data for use in the development of the 2018 Integrated Report, which includes the 303(d) list of impaired waters. In addition to data collected by the office's Watershed Assessment Branch (WAB), the agency will be assessing water quality data collected by state and federal agencies, watershed associations, permitted facilities, and others with available data.
The Integrated Report is developed by the WVDEP and submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency every two years as required in the federal Clean Water Act. Streams and lakes are included on the list of impaired waters if they fail to meet water quality standards.
Water quality data collected in West Virginia from July 1, 2012, through June 30, 2017 can be sent to Chris.A.Daugherty@wv.gov or Stephen.A.Young@wv.gov. The deadline to submit data is October 27, 2017.
A data submission form is available for download at
www.dep.wv.gov/WWE/watershed/IR/Pages/Third-Party-Data-Guidelines.aspx. The form has all the required information necessary to ensure the data can be evaluated for use in the report.
Documentation that describes data collection and analysis details will help the agency assess the quality of the submitted results. If the data was subject to a quality assurance/quality control plan, that should be submitted with the water quality data. For an example of a QA/QC plan, go to http://www.epa.gov/quality/qs-docs/g5-final.pdf.
Submitted water quality data that does not meet quality assurance/quality control guidelines may not be considered.
Although electronic data submission is highly preferred and encouraged, non-electronic submissions may be sent to the DEP at the Division of Water and Waste Management, Attn: Steve Young, 601 57th St. S.E., Charleston, WV 25304.