Why every drop counts

The challenge

The problem we are solving

Virginia has hundreds of mitigation banks and thousands of permits requiring environmental credits. But the market has faced significant challenges:

• Limited real-time visibility into credit availability
• Manual, paper-based processes causing delays
• Difficulty tracking compliance across multiple systems
• No central marketplace for price discovery
• Lack of transparency for all stakeholders

These inefficiencies don't just cost time and money—they impact Virginia's ability to protect its waterways and wetlands effectively.

The solution

How SWaN transforms the market

The Stream, Wetland and Nutrient Credit Exchange (SWaN) is Virginia's official platform for environmental credit trading, built on Water Ledger's blockchain infrastructure.

Real-Time Transparency

• See credit availability, pricing, and market activity across Virginia in real-time
• Track supply and demand trends by watershed and credit type
• Access historical data for informed decision-making

Automated Compliance

• Seamless integration with DEQ and RIBITS for instant reporting and verification
• Eliminate manual paperwork and data entry
• Automatic audit trails for every transaction

Trusted Infrastructure

• Blockchain technology ensures every transaction is immutable and auditable
• Built for regulatory environments with full compliance

The partnership

Why Water Ledger?

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality selected Water Ledger after a rigorous public procurement process because:

• Proven blockchain infrastructure built specifically for environmental markets
• Security and compliance standards meeting government requirements
• Track record of successful implementations in regulatory environments
• Shared commitment to public transparency and environmental stewardship
• Technology designed to scale from state to national level

“Water Ledger's platform gives us the infrastructure to modernize Virginia's environmental credit markets while maintaining the highest standards of accountability.”

Mike Rollband, Director Virginia DEQ

The outcomes

What success looks like

For Regulators

• Complete market visibility
• Automated compliance tracking
• Reduced administrative burden
• Better environmental outcomes
• Data-driven policy decisions

For Mitigation Banks

• Efficient credit management
• Broader buyer network access
• Transparent market pricing
• Lower transaction costs
• Simplified reporting

For Permit Holders and Developers

• Easy credit acquisition
• Verified credit authenticity
• Streamlined compliance
• Competitive market pricing
• Faster project approvals