Did you know that Virginia has over one million acres of wetlands?

Today is World Wetlands Day, an annual international celebration of an ecosystem that is critical to human and environmental health, but has unfortunately seen precipitous decline around the world in recent decades.

This year’s theme is “Wetlands and Human Wellbeing,” which aligns perfectly with HRSD’s promise to treat wastewater and recover natural resources to protect public health and the environment. We take pride in safeguarding the Chesapeake Bay through wastewater treatment and our innovate SWIFT project. In our service area of southeastern Virginia, wetlands are ingrained into our way of life, and we take our responsibility to protect this ecosystem seriously.

World Wetlands Day 2024 comes on the heels of some good news for Virginia’s wetlands. Despite a continued decrease in acreage around the world, the Chesapeake Bay has recently seen a slow but steady increase in wetlands across the watershed, particularly in the state of Virginia. This is hugely important as wetlands serve as a first line of defense against sea level rise and help to stabilize shorelines during significant storm events. Together with the efforts of government, scientific, and nonprofit groups, HRSD hopes to ensure a robust and thriving wetlands ecosystem for decades to come.

For more on World Wetlands Day, you can visit their website here.  

We invite you to learn more about HRSD’s environmental stewardship efforts by checking out our Annual Report here.