Restoring Norfolk's Waterways

Water is essential for life and our most precious resource.

The City of Norfolk is working to address the quantity and quality of stormwater runoff. Since 1991, the Environmental Management Division has been ensuring that Norfolk remains compliant with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations and the Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) Permit.

Water Quality Affects All Residents

On average, Norfolk residents live within a quarter mile of a river or stream that drains to the Chesapeake Bay. Our actions directly affect water quality. When it rains, pollutants have the potential to flow untreated into our local waterways and into the Bay.

Improving Waterway Efforts

Restoring Norfolk's Waterways is important to everyone for that reason Norfolk is taking a innovative and collaborative approach to improving our waterways for all to enjoy. Our efforts include steps everyone from homeowners to businesses can take to improve our waterways for generations to come:

• Buffer zone plantings
• Improved engineered Best Management Practices (BMP)
• Rain gardens
• Wetland restorations
• Living shorelines

Together we will make a difference because cleaner waterways begin here.

Wetlands Map