Maps of Sewage Sludge Application Areas
Make Connections With Maps
Below are three different ways to view information about where sewage sludge has been spread in Virginia, along with links to access the map and basic directions on how to use them. Each map makes different information available, so getting a full picture of any particular site requires using more than one map.
Biosolids Application Areas in Virginia by Allegheny Blue Ridge Alliance
This map built by ABRA has overlay layers that include:
areas where sludge has been applied
sludge storage facilities
impaired rivers and streams
sites where VDH tested water for PFAS.
How to use it:
You can control which layers are visible using the legend on the right of the map. Clicking on the VDH sites will reveal information about the test results. The map has controls on the upper left to zoom in and out or search for a specific place.
Read more about how the data for this map was collected and other important contextual information HERE.
Virginia DEQ’s PEEP System
When permit applications are submitted to DEQ, they will be entered into the Permit Enhancement and Evaluation Platform (PEEP) system. You can look for and track the progress of many kinds of applications. The VPA (Virginia Pollution Abatement) applications are the ones for land application of Class B Biosolids.
How to use it:
You can scroll down below the map and find all the applications listed by county. To find all the active VPA applications in the state, select the “Program Type” dropdown, uncheck “All,” check “VPA,” then submit.
Using a VPA permit number, you can get all the application information from DEQ.
Using the interactive map and search, you can track the progress of any permit applications made to DEQ.
State Map of Biosolids Application Areas by Virginia DEQ
On the DEQ Environmental Data Hub, there are several interactive maps. Biosolids information is on the Environmental Data Mapper. Clicking on a specific biosolids area will reveal a pop-up window with:
DEQ Control Number and FIPS code
acreage area
permit date(s).
How to use it:
From the Hub page, click on the Environmental Data Mapper button. Agree to the terms and conditions to enter. Open Map Layers menu, expand the Biosolids Layers option and select Biosolids areas.
Detail from the DEQ map, showing the Map Layers button clicked and Biosolids Areas made visible.
Zoom or search to the area you want to see. Click on the Help and User Guide for more detailed instructions.
County GIS Maps
Most Virginia counties have some sort of publicly-accessible map service. But what these maps reveal varies widely from county to county. Here, we focus on Albemarle County GIS. With the Biosolids Overlay enabled, clicking on area you can access:
name and address of owner
acreage area and tax data
ownership history.
Note that only property information is available from the county page and not information about biosolids applications.
How to use it:
From the County GIS homepage, click Maps.
Detail from the Albemarle County GIS map, showing Biosolids overlay enabled and map refreshed.
From the Maps menu, expand Overlays, then check the box beside Biosolids. Click the Refresh Map button.