FAQs

The Water Center offers and facilitates several grant opportunities in cooperation with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). As Virginia’s designated institute under the Water Resources Research Act (WRRA), the Center supports research through the following programs:

• Annual Base Grants (WRRA 104(b))
• National Competitive Grants (WRRA 104(g))
• Coordination Grants

Using a portion of the Annual Base Grant, the Virginia Water Center administers an annual competitive grants program for student research. This program is open to students at all Virginia colleges and universities. A request for proposals is issued each year, typically in the winter or spring.

For faculty investigators, the Center serves as the conduit for the USGS 104(g) National Competitive Grant Program. Any investigator at an accredited institution of higher education may apply through the Virginia Water Center.

Please note that all grant programs are contingent upon funding availability and timelines set by the USGS. Current opportunities and details are posted on the Grant Opportunities page.

Many water‑related questions—whether individual or community‑based—can be answered by trusted partners and public resources. We encourage you to explore the options below to find the best match for your needs:

General water and environmental questions

The Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) connects you with credible experts and educators who share university‑based knowledge, tools, and practical guidance.

👉 Visit the VCE website for programs and contacts.

• Drinking water and groundwater programs (Safe Drinking Water Act)

For questions related to federally regulated drinking water programs, contact the U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline:

📧 Email: safewater@epa.gov

Virginia groundwater questions

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Groundwater Characterization and Monitoring Program provides:

• Contact information for groundwater specialists by region
• Groundwater publications
• Well and spring databases

👉 Visit the DEQ Groundwater Characterization and Monitoring Program website.

Household drinking water questions

The Virginia Household Water Quality Program (VAHWQP) offers county‑based drinking water clinics and resources on:

• Private well testing
• Drinking water quality
• Private water system maintenance

👉 Visit the Virginia Household Water Quality Program website for upcoming clinic schedules and educational materials.

All other water‑related questions

If you’re not sure where your question fits, or if you need additional guidance, please contact us directly at

📧 Email: water@vt.edu

The VWRRC maintains several different email and Google Groups lists.  If you would like to become a member of one of the following lists, please email Kevin McGuire or subscribe below to lists that are publicly open to join.

• VWRRC Newsletter List: Join our email list for newsletters directly from the Water Center. Sign up via Constant Contact.
• VT Water Graduate Student Google Group: The list restricted to graduate students at Virginia Tech with broad interests in water (e.g., watershed management, water supply/distribution, hydrology, water quality, treatment, policy, economics, law, modeling, water & energy, etc.). The list is used by the VWRRC for disseminating information about seminars, speakers, courses, and announcements of other academic information related to water on campus.  Members can post to the list, but all posts are moderated. To subscribe, send an email to vthydro_grads-g+subscribe@vt.edu from an email address associated with a Virginia Tech account.
• Water Faculty at Virginia Universities Google Group: This list is for Water Center communications with faculty across all Virginia’s colleges and universities. Posting is restricted to VWRRC staff.
• Virginia Tech Water Faculty Google Group: This list is intended for Virginia Tech faculty only.  It is used by the VWRRC for disseminating information about seminars, speakers, courses, and announcements of other academic information related to water on campus. Posting is restricted to VWRRC staff.
• Virginia Water Educators Directory Google Group: Members can connect with other water educators to share information and receive announcements about water education in the state. Contact Liz Sharp to join
• Water Job Board:  Listing of current water job announcements. This public list is compiled by the Virginia Water Resources Research Center.  Join the Water Jobs Google Group, developed by the Water Center, to receive emails of job listings. Contact janewalk@vt.edu if you need help joining the group.

Contact us via email. You may also contact any Virginia water expert listed on our Virginia Water Faculty Listing.

The Virginia Water Resources Research Center (VWRRC)—also known as the Virginia Water Center—was established in 1965 at Virginia Tech under the Water Resources Research Act of 1964. The Center serves as Virginia’s official Water Resources Research Act institute.

The Virginia Water Center supports and advances water resources knowledge through research, education and training, and information dissemination, with the goal of improving water management and decision‑making in the Commonwealth and beyond.

👉 Visit the About Us page to learn more about the Center’s mission, programs, and partnerships.

The Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Household Water Quality Program (VAHWQP) provide information about testing drinking water. If your water comes from a city, county supply, or water authority, contact them for their latest testing report or concerns regarding your water quality.

If your water comes from a private well you are responsible for testing and treating your own water. A great resource is the Virginia Household Water Quality Program (VAHWQP).

The Virginia Water Center has a job board and other employment resources on our website!  Visit our job page to learn more. We have a list of current job announcements, a Google Group to send the job listings right to your email, a list of Virginia-specific resources, and a list of online job boards and resources.

Each year the Water Center supports a Virginia Tech student (second-semester sophomore or above) for a semester-long, paid internship. The Water Center envisions the internship as an opportunity for a student to experience learning and work activities that will enhance the student’s knowledge about, and skills useful for, a variety of possible water-related careers.

The intern will work approximately 10 hours per week throughout the spring semester at a variety of tasks. Opportunities could include time at the Water Center offices in Cheatham Hall on the Virginia Tech campus, in water-related labs, or at field sites.

Visit our internship page to find out more!

We are located in 210 Cheatham Hall on the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, Virginia. Reach us at 540-231-5624 or water@vt.edu. You can find us on social media at: X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Bluesky.

We have newsletters, records of Virginia Water legislation, special and education reports, research bulletins, proceedings from numerous research symposiums, and peer reviewed publications. Check out our publications page to find them all.