Environmental quality in the Richmond metropolitan area is maintained through a partnership of state and local governments in cooperation with businesses and citizens. The health of Richmond’s natural environment is addressed from a number of different angles. Areas of concentration include:

Water
Richmond has been a national leader in enhancing water quality in the James River. Over three hundred years ago, Richmond’s drinking water came from the numerous springs along nearby hills and from an open stream that flowed from the Capitol across Main Street.  The first water system consisted of wooden pipes that brought water from these sources to homes. Wells at street corners were available for general use and for extinguishing fires. The wooden pipes were replaced with cast iron ones beginning in the mid-1800s.  Richmond’s water treatment plant was built on the banks of the James River in 1924 and produced 30 million gallons of water each day.  Over the years, the plant has been upgraded and enlarged to meet growing demand.

Richmond’s Department of Public Utilities has invested millions of dollars to ensure that the water utility will meet or exceed federal regulations and keep up with increasing regional demands for reliable high-quality water. The city's Combined Sewer Overflow program won the first place award from the Environmental Protection Agency. The city has also received numerous honors from the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies for excellence in wastewater treatment.