12 Va. Admin. Code § 5-135-30 - Issuance and lifting of beach advisories and beach warnings

Current through Register Vol.. 38, No. 17, April 11, 2022

A. The BAV value that determines issuance or lifting of a beach advisory equals 104 most probable number (MPN) per 100 mL enterococci.

B. The commissioner shall issue beach advisories whenever public beach water samples are equal to or greater than the BAV. After the issuing of the beach advisory, if the results of subsequent testing of public beach water samples are less than the BAV, the commissioner shall lift the beach advisory.

C. The commissioner shall issue beach warnings whenever it is not possible for department staff to collect samples of the public beach water on the scheduled day as a result of practical or safety concerns, or if the proximity of other imminent hazards, such as those of a chemical spill, pose a health risk to public beach water users. The commissioner shall lift beach warnings when the event or imminent health hazard has passed or public beach water sampling has resumed. The appropriate laboratory analysis for the hazard shall be used when available to demonstrate public beach water conditions are safe for public use.

D. Acceptable means of public notification of beach advisories and beach warnings include public beach signage, press releases, contacting of local government officials, social media posts, and other forms of communication to convey a beach advisory or beach warning.

Notes

12 Va. Admin. Code § 5-135-30

Derived From Virginia Register Volume 35, Issue 26, eff. 10/3/2019.

Statutory Authority: § 32.1-12 of the Code of Virginia.