Fecal Bacteria and General Standard Total Maximum Daily Load Development for Bluestone River

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Bluestone River was placed on the Commonwealth of Virginia’s 1996 Section 303(d) List of Impaired Waters because of violations of the fecal coliform bacteria water quality standard. Based on exceedances of the standard recorded at Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VADEQ) monitoring stations, the stream does not support primary contact recreation (e.g., swimming, wading, and fishing). The new applicable state standard (Virginia Water Quality Standard 9 VAC 25-260-170) specifies that the number of fecal coliform bacteria shall not exceed a maximum allowable level of 400 colony-forming units(cfu) per 100 milliliters (ml). Potential sources of fecal coliform include both point source and nonpoint source contributions. Nonpoint sources include: wildlife; grazing livestock; land application of manure; land application of biosolids; urban/suburban runoff; failed and malfunctioning septic systems; and uncontrolled discharges (straight pipes, dairy parlor waste, etc.). There are nine NPDES permitted dischargers in the Bluestone River watershed. Two- a wastewater treatment plant and sewage treatment plant- are permitted or fecal coliform discharge.