Press Release: Fish Consumption Advisory for Chickahominy River
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) issues fish consumption advisories pursuant to§ 32.1-248.01, which directs VDH to develop policies that identify criteria and levels of concern for toxic substances used in determining whether to issue a fish consumption advisory. A fish consumption advisory is not a prohibition of eating fish, but a warning about the contaminants present in a fish species. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is part of a larger group of chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These chemicals can repel oil, grease, and water, so they have been used for a variety of household and industrial uses. Health effects related to PFOS exposure include increased cholesterol, lower antibody response to vaccines, changes in liver enzymes, pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia and decrease in birthweight. In addition to the current PFOS fish consumption advisory for the Chickahominy River, the black crappie fish species is being added. PFAS fish consumption advisories are not unique to Virginia. More than a dozen states have a PFAS fish consumption advisory that include PFOS.
For more information on sample locations and results visit, Statewide PFAS Sampling Dashboard.
Press Release: Fish Consumption Advisory for Flannagan Reservoir
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) issues fish consumption advisories pursuant to§ 32.1-248.01, which directs VDH to develop policy that identifies criteria and levels of concern for toxic substances used in determining to issue a fish consumption advisory. A fish consumption advisory is not a prohibition of eating fish, but a warning about the contaminants present in a fish species. Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) are a group of man-made chemicals consisting of 209 individual compounds of a similar chemical structure. Eating fish containing PCBs may increase your risk for cancer. The Flannagan Reservoir is still a safe source of drinking water, since public drinking water is treated to remove contaminates and rigorously tested. Fish from the “other side of the dam” (downstream) have not been collected and tested for PCBs, but may be collected in the future.
For more information on sampling locations and results, visit Fish Tissue Monitoring | Virginia DEQ.
Press Release: Fish Consumption Advisory for Occoquan Watershed
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) issues fish consumption advisories pursuant to § 32.1-248.01, which directs VDH to develop policies that identify criteria and levels of concern for toxic substances used in determining whether to issue a fish consumption advisory. A fish consumption advisory is not a prohibition of eating fish, but a warning about the contaminants present in a fish species. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is part of a larger group of chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These chemicals can repel oil, grease, and water, so they have been used for a variety of household and industrial uses. Health effects related to PFOS exposure include increased cholesterol, lower antibody response to vaccines, changes in liver enzymes, pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia and decrease in birthweight.
Due to the elevated levels of PFAS observed at the Fairfax Water Griffith plant in finished product water, fish tissue samples were collected in 2024. Two rounds of fish sampling from 2024-2025 showed elevated levels of PFOS. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has identified 21 possible sources of PFAS upstream of the Occoquan Reservoir. Many sources are now testing or have tested their wastewater and/or stormwater, and DEQ will use the results to figure out which ones are contributing the most pollution and how to address it. Under recent state law, certain facilities may be required to reduce PFAS levels in their discharges to meet federal drinking water standards by around 2029. DEQ is focusing only on sources that could impact drinking water. DEQ does plan to conduct fish tissue monitoring, including PFAS, in the Occoquan watershed during a future rotation. For more information on 2026 statewide sampling locations, visit 2026 WQM Monitoring Plan.
For more information on sample locations and results visit, Statewide PFAS Sampling Dashboard.
- For questions about human health risks from exposure to fish contaminants, please contact the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) at (804) 864-8182.
- For general questions about fishing regulations in Virginia, please call the Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) at (804) 367-1000, or visit their webpage: DWR Fishing.
- For further information regarding the fish tissue sampling and analysis process, please visit the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) website: DEQ Fish Tissue Monitoring, or call (804) 698-4000.
- For media inquires, please contact Brookie Crawford at brookie.crawford@vdh.virginia.gov.