&EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water Regulations and Standards Washington, DC 20460 EPA 440/5-88/020 September 1988 Water Acidity-Alkalinity (pH) Water Quality Standards Criteria Summaries: A Compilation of State/Federal Criteria ------- ------- DISCLAIMER **, ™ Publication was prepared by Battelle under contract to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Contract 68-03-3534) Secondary information sources were used to compile data presented in this document. Each State was given an opportunity to review and provide comments on a draft of this information document In no event shall either the United States or Battelle have' any responsibility or liability for any use, misuse, or reliance upon the information contained herein, nor does either warrant or otherwise represent,in any way the accuracy, adequacy, efficacy or applicability of the contents hereof. "cacy, The reader should .consult the water quality standards of a particular State for exact regulatory language applicable-to that State. Copies of State water quality standards may be obtained from the State's Water Pollution Control Agency or its equivalent. ' * Additional information may also be obtained from the: Standards Branch Criteria and Standards Division (WH-585.) Office of Water Regulations and Standards U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Washington, D.C. 20460 202-475-7315 This document may be obtained only from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) at the following address: National Technical Information Service 5285 Front Royal Road Springfield, Virginia 22161 703-487-4650 The NTIS order number is: PB89-141527 ------- INTRODUCTION This digest is compiled to provide general information to the public as veil as to Federal, State, and local officials. It contains excerpts from the individual Federal-State water quality standards establishing pollutant specific criteria for interstate surface waters. The water quality standards program is implemented by , the ,U-S. Environmental Protection-Agency where responsibility for providing water/ quality recommendations,. approving State-adopted standards for interstate waters, evaluating adherence to the standards, and overseeing enforcement of standards compliance, has been mandated by Congress. * , • - Standards, a nationwide strategy for surface water quality management, contain three major elements: the use (recreation, drinking water, fish and wildlife propagation, industrial, or agricultural) to be made of the navigable water; criteria to protect these uses? and an antidegradation statement to protect existing high quality waters from degradation by the addition of pollutants. Guidance for the development of standards by individual States is contained in two EPA documents entitled Water Quality Standards Handbook (1983) and Quality Criteria for Water (1986). This digest deals with pH and its use in State water quality criteria. The pH is an indication of the degree of hydrogen ion concentration and hydrogen ion activity. In natural conditions, pH is determined by weak and strong acids and bases, and their salts. Toxicologically, pH can have certain adverse effects on the physiology and development of many aquatic life forms. It can also effect the degree of. toxicity of many chemicals by altering their solubility and association with the hydrogen ions or other elements in water. The 1986 Quality Criteria for Water recommends a criteria range of pH which will provide protection from adverse effects for specific water uses. Range 5-9 6.5-9.0 6.5-8.5 Domestic water supplies (welfare) Freshwater aquatic life Marine aquatic life (but not more than 0.2 units outside of normally occurring range) : Since water quality standards are revised from time to time, following procedures set forth in the Clean Water Act, individual entries in this digest may be superseded. This digest will be updated periodically. Because this publication is intended for use only as a general information reference, the reader needs to refer to the current approved water quality standards to obtain the latest information for special purposes and applications. These can be obtained from the State water pollution control agencies or the EPA Regional Offices. -2- ------- REFERENCES 5 California Water Quality Standards by River Basins, ca. 1975 For more detailed information on selected basins, sub-basins and stretches of streams and coastal areas refer to California State Water Quality Standards. 31 Water Quality Standards for Interstate and Intrastate Streams in New Mexico, State of New Mexico Water Quality Control Commission, 1988. 35 Ohio Water Quality Standards, Chapter 3745-1 of the Administrative Code Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, 1985. 43 Texas Surface Water Quality Standards, Texas Water Commission, Rule Change, 1988. 44 Utah Standards of Quality for Waters of the State, Wastewater Disposal Regulations: Part II, State of Utah Department of Health: Division of Environmental Health, 1988. 45 Vermont Water Quality Standards, State of Vermont Water Resource Board, 1987. 51 Water Quality Standards for American Samoa, 1984, pp. 20-25. 53 Revised Guam Water Quality Standards, Guam Environmental Protection Agency, 1984, pp. 8 + 23. 54 Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands Marine and Fresh Water Quality Standards, Commonwealth Register, Vol. 8 No. 5, 1986, p. 4464. 56 Marine and Fresh Water Quality Standard Regulations, Trust Territory, 1986, p. 6. 57 Environmental Laws and Regulations of the Virgin Islands, 1985. ENVIRONMENT REPORTER. The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. Washington, D.C. 1 Pages 701:1003, June 26, 1981, 701:1004-1010, September 5, 1980 2 Pages 706:1003, 1007, November 7, 1986 3 Page 711:1017, February 7, 1986 4 Page 716t1004, August 30, 1985 7 Pages 731:1004-1008, May .14, 1982 8 Pages 736:1007-1010, March 28, 1986 -3- ------- 9 Pages 746:1010.2-1010.3, September 5, 1986, 746:1011-1014. January 21, 1983 10 Pages 751:0504-0505, December 27, 1985 11 Pages 756:1003-1008, September 20, 1985 . . • 12 Page 761:1027, January 23, 1987 13 'Pages 766:0505-0506, 0514, March 28, 1986, 766:0507-0508, May 25, 1984 14 Pages 771:1003-1006, August 10, 1984, 771:1006.1-1006.4, November 29, 1985, 771:1007-1012, December 26, 1980, 771:1013-1019, January 10, 1986 15 Pages 776:1005-1006, February 13, 1987 16 Page 781:1011, March 27, 1987 -....' 17 Pages 786:1008-1009, November 29, 1985 18 Page 791:1006, January 18, 1985 19 Pages 796:0104-0108, April 18, 1986 20 Pages 801:1001-1003, April 19, 1985 21 Pages 806:1002-1003, June 21, 1985 22 Page 811:1003, February 13, 1987 23 Pages S16:1006-100'9, June 25, 1982 24 Page 821:1002, October 25, 1985 25 Pages 826:1001-1004, May 9, 1986, 826:1004.1, February 7, 1986, 826:1005, 1008, June 21, 1985 . : , ".•'•••. ^ ; 26 Pages 831:1004-1009, April 19, 1985 27 Page 836:1003, March 27, 1987 28 Pages 841:1001-1002, 1011, February 22, 1985, 841:1003-1010, June 29, 1984 29 Page 846:1004, October 5, 1984 30 Pages 851:1009-1024, April 11, 1986 32 Pages 861:1007-1012, November 29, 1985 33 Pages 866:1009, 1012, August 29, 1986 34 Pages 871:1002-1004, June 7; 1985 36 Page 881:1005, September 26, 1986 -4- ------- 37 Pages 886:1005-1047, May 9, 1986 38 Pages 891:1004-1006, August 9, 1985 39 Pages 901:1001-1005, August 9, 1985 40 Pages 906:1006-1009, November 29, 1985 41 Pages 911:1005-1007, March 22, 1985 42 Pages 916:0541-0544, September 7, 1984, 916:1002, April 28, ,1?7.8; 46 Page 936:1002, February 28, 1986 47 Pages 941:1003-1005, October 21, 1983 48 Pages 946:1003-1009, August 10, 1984 49 Page 951:1002, March 13, 1987 50 Page 956:1006, July, 5, 1985 52 Pages 741:1001, 1003, March 28, 1986 r-.,..,.. 55 Pages 896:1003-1004, December 23, 1983 -5- ------- KEY PWS Public Water Supply F&WL Fish and Wildlife Agr. Agricultural Ind. Industrial Rec. Recreation Nav. Navigation mg/1 Milligrams per Liter SAR Sodium Absorption Ratio (For explanation of use classifications, see EPA publication, General Stream Use Designations.) -6- ------- State and Water Use Acidity-Alkalinity (pH) Criteria Alabama PWS, Swimming, F&WL, *A&I, *IO, and Nav. Swimming, F&WL, *A&I, *IO, and Nav. Shellfish Sewage, industrial wastes or other wastes shall not cause the pH to deviate more than one unit from the normal or natural pH nor be less than 6.0 nor greater than 8.5. For estuarine and salt waters to which this classification is. assigned, wastes as described herein shall not cause the pH to deviate more than one unit from the normal or natural pH nor be less than 6.5 or greater than 8.5. Sewage, industrial wastes or other wastes shall not cause the pH to deviate more than one unit from normal or natural pH nor be less than 6.5 nor greater than 8.5. *In the State of Alabama, there are two separate classifications: 1. Agricultural & Industrial Water Supply (A&I) 2. Industrial Operations (10) Alaska^ Fresh Waters PWS Agr. Aquaculture Ind. Rec. (Contact) Rec. (Secondary) F&WL, Shellfish "Marine Waters Aquaculture 6.0 - 8.5 not vary more than 0.5 pH unit from natural condition 5.0 - 9.0 6.8 - 8.5 for dairy sanitation 6.5 - 8.5 not vary more than 0.5 pH unit from natural condition 5.0 - 9.0 6.5 - 8.5 not vary more than 0.5 pH unit from natural condition; If the natural condition pH is outside this range substances shall not be added that cause an increase in buffering capacity of the water. 5.0 - 9.0 6.5 - 9.0 not vary more than 0.5 pH unit from natural condition 6.5 - 8.5 not vary more than 0.1 pH unit from natural condition -7- ------- State and ¥ater Use Acidity-Alkalinity (pH) Criteria Seafood Processing Ind. Rec. (Contact) Rec. (Secondary) F&WL, Shellfish Harvesting for Consumption of Raw Mollusks or Other Raw Aquatic Life 6.0 - 8.5 not vary more than 0.5 pH unit from natural condition 5.0 - 9.0 u 6.5 - 8.5 If the natural condition pH is outside this range substances shall not be added that cause an increase in buffering capacity of the water. 5.0 - 9.0 6.5 - 8.5 not vary more than 0.1 pH unit from natural condition 6.0 - 8.5 not vary more than 0.5 pH unit from natural condition Arizona" DWS FBC IHC A&W Agl AgL no standard NS 6.5-9.0 0.5 maximum change 6.5 - 9.0 0.5 due to the 6.5 - 9.0 0.5 activities of 4.5 - 9.0 NS man 6.4 - 9.0 NS DWS = Domestic Water Source FBC = Full Body Contact IHC = Incidental Human Contact A&W « Aquatic & Wildlife Agl * Agricultural Irrigation AgL - Agricultural Livestock Watering NS = No Standard Arkansas All 6.0-9.0 Fluctuation not more than 1.0 pH unit over a period of 24 hours. The pH shall not go out of the range due to wastes discharged to the receiving waters. -8- ------- State and Water Use Acidity-Alkalinity (pH) Criteria California (1A) Klamath River Basin (IB) North Coastal Basin (2) San Francisco Bay Basin (3) Central Coastal Basin (4A) Santa Clara River Basin (4B) Los Angeles River Basin (5A,B,C) Sacramento- San Joaquin Delta The pH shall not be depressed below 6.5 nor raised above 8.5. Changes in normal ambient pH levels shall not exceed 0.2 units in waters with designated marine (MAR) or saline (SAL) beneficial uses nor 0.5 units within the range • specified above in fresh waters with designated COLD or WARM beneficial uses. (Same as 1A) (Same as 1A) Objectives for Inland Surface Waters, Enclosed Bays and Estuaries The pH shall neither be depressed below 6.5 nor raised above 8.3 in waters with designated REC-1, REC-2, AGR, or MUN beneficial uses. For waters with designated aquatic habitat protection, including WARM, COLD, MAR, and BIOL, and for waters not otherwise mentioned, the pH shall not be depressed below 7.0 or raised above 8.5. Changes in normal ambient pH levels shall not exceed 0.2 in waters with designated MAR beneficial uses, nor 0.5 in fresh waters with designated COLD or WARM beneficial uses. r (Same as 1A) Objectives for Inland Surface Waters, Enclosed Bays and Estuaries (Same as 1A) The following water quality objectives apply to all inland surface waters (excluding the Delta) of the basins, and objectives that apply only to specific surface water bodies. The pH shall not be depressed below 6.5 nor raised above 8.5. Changes in normal ambient pH levels shall not exceed 0.5 in fresh waters with designated COLD or WARM beneficial uses. The following water quality objectives apply to Goose Lake: pH shall be less than 9.5 and greater than 7.5 at all times. -9- ------- State and ¥ater Use Acidity-Alkalinity (pH) Criteria (5D) Tulare Lake Basin (6A) North Lahontan Basin (6B) South Lahontan Basin (7A) West Colorado River Basin (7B) East Colorado River Basin (8) Santa Ana River Basin The following specific numeric objectives apply to the waters of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. All waters lying within the legal boundaries of the Delta are covered by these objectives unless otherwise specified. The pH shall not be depressed below 6.5 nor raised above- 8.5. Changes in normal ambient pH levels shall not exceed 0.5 in fresh waters with designated COLD or WARM beneficial uses. The pH shall not be depressed below 6.5 nor raised above 8.3 nor changed at any time more than 0.3 from normal ambient pH levels. The pH shall not be depressed below 6.5 nor raised above 8.5, except in Eagle Lake where the pH shall not be depressed below 8.0 nor raised above 9.5 and in Lake Tahoe where the pH shall not be depressed below 7.0 nor raised above 8.4. Changes in normal ambient pH levels shall not exceed 0.5 units in fresh waters with designated COLD or>,_ WARM beneficial uses. The pH shall not be depressed below 6.5 nor raised above 8.5. Changes in normal ambient pH levels shall not exceed 0.5 units in fresh waters with designated COLD or WARM beneficial uses. Changes in normal ambient pH levels attributable to controllable water .quality factors shall not exceed 0.5 units; and shall not depress the receiving water pH below 6.5 units nor raise it above 8.5 units. Changes in normal ambient pH levels attributable to controllable water quality factors shall not exceed 0.5 .units; and shall not depress the receiving water pH below 6.5 units nor raise it above 8.5 units. (1) All bay and estuary waters: ,, As a result of controllable water quality factors, -. the - pH shall not be, depressed below 7.0 units nor raised above 8.6 units. •Changes in normal ambient pH levels shall not ..exceed 0.2 units. -10- ------- State and Water Use Acidity-Alkalinity (pH) Criteria (9) San Diego Basin (2) All inland surface vaters: (a) The pH of all water except Baldwin. Lake shall ;. not be depressed below 6.5 units nor Raised-above 8.5 units as a result of controllable water quality factors. , , ., (b) The pH of Baldwin Lake shall-np.t be depressed below 6.5 units nor raised above" 8.9 units as a result of controllable water quality factors. (c) .Changes in normal ambient pH levels shall not exceed 0.5 units in any inland surface water. Changes in normal ambient pH levels shall not exceed 0.2 units in waters with designated marine (MAR) or saline (SAL) beneficial uses nor 0.5 units in fresh waters with designated COLD or WARM beneficial uses. In bays and estuaries the pH shall not be depressed below7.0 nor raised above 8.5. In inland surface waters the pH shall not be depressed below 6.5 nor raised above 8.5. Ocean Plan The pH shall not be changed at any time more than 0.2 units from that which occurs naturally. Colorado Recreational: Class 1; Primary Contact Class 2; Secondary Contact Aquatic Life; Class 1; Cold Water Biota Class I; Warm Water Biota Domestic Water Supply: 6.5-9.0 units 6.5-9.0 units 6.5-9.0 units 6.5-9.0 units 5.0-9.0 units -11- ------- State and ffater Use Connecticut Inland Water Class AA PtfS Class A PtfS/Swim Class B Swim/Rec./Agr./Ind./F&WL Class C F&WL/Ind./Nav. Class D Coastal and Marine Vater Class SA Shellfish/Swim Class SB Swim/Rec./Ind./F&WL Class SC F&WL/Shellfish/Nav./Ind. Class SD Groundwaters Acidity-Alkalinity (pH) Criteria Class GA PtfS Class GAA PtfS Delaware All 8 as naturally occurs as naturally occurs 6.5 - 8.0 6.0. - 8.5 Not specified 6.8 - 8.5 6.8 - 8.5 6.5 - 8.5 Not specified As naturally occurs or as may result from normal agricultural, horticultural silviculture, lawn maintenance or construction activity provided all reasonable controls are used. pH shall be between 6.5 >- 8.5 unless due to natural conditions. Where outside the stipulated range due to natural conditions, shall not vary more than 57, due to human-induced changes. ERES Waters: Where pH falls outside the range from 6.5 to 8.5 due to natural conditions, no human-induced change shall be allowed. Alkalinity - Shall not vary from natural conditions: (a) by more than 25% where >20 mg/1 as CaC03; or (b) where less than or equal to 20 mg/1. Florida3 All 6.0 - 8.5 pH - shall not vary more than one unit above or below natural background provided that the pH is not lowered to less than 6 units or raised above 8.5 units. If natural background is less than 6 units, the pH shall not vary below natural background ,or vary more than one unit above natural background. If natural background is higher than 8.5 units, the pH -12- ------- State aad Vater Use Acidity-Alkalinity (pH) Criteria Class I PWS Class II Shellfish Class III Rec. Class IV Agr. Class V Nav.&Ind. Class I PWS Class II Shellfish Class III Rec. shall not vary above natural background or vary more than one unit belov natural background. Alkalinity no less than 20 mg/1 as CaCOS Not specified no less than 20 mg/1 as CaCOS not more than 600 milligrams (mg)/l as CaCOS Not specified pj Not specified pH - shall not vary more than one unit above or below natural background of coastal waters as defined in 17-3.05(l)(c), F.A.C., or more than two-tenths unit above or below natural background of open waters as defined in 17-3.05(l)(c), F.A.C., provided that the pH is not lowered to less than 6.5 units or raised above 8.5 units. If natural background is less than 6.5 units the pH shall not vary below natural background or vary more than one unit above natural background for coastal waters or more than two-tenths unit above natural background for open waters. If natural background is higher than 8.5 units, the pH shall not vary above natural background or vary more than one unit below natural background of coastal waters, or more than two-tenths unit below natural background of open waters. pH - shall not vary more than one unit above or below natural background of predominantly fresh waters and coastal waters as defined in 17-3.05(l)(c), F.A.C., or more than two-tenths unit above or below natural background of open waters as defined in 17-3.05(1)(c), F.A.C., provided that the pH is not lowered to less than 6 units in predominantly fresh waters, or less than 6.5 units in predominantly marine waters, or raised above 8.5 units. If natural background is less than 6 units, in predominantly fresh waters or 6.5 units in predominantly marine waters, the pH shall not vary below natural background or vary more than one unit above natural background of predominantly fresh waters and coastal waters, or more than two-tenths unit above natural background of open waters. If natural background is higher than 8.5 units, the pH shall not vary above natural background or vary more than one unit below natural background of predominantly fresh waters and coastal waters, or more than two-tenths unit below natural background of open -13- ------- State and Water Use Class IV Agr. Class V Nav.&Ind. Georgia10 PWS Rec. F&WL,Shellfish Agr. Ind. Nav. Havaii11 Streams Elevated Wetlands Estuaries (except Pearl Harbor) Pearl Harbor Embayments Open Coastal Waters Oceanic Waters 12 Idaho All Illinois13 General Standards Secondary Contact & Acidity-Alkalinity (pH) Criteria waters. Not specified pH 5.0-9.5 except certain swamp waters which may be as low as 4.5 6.0 - 8.5 6.0 - 8.5 6.0 - 8.5 6.0 - 8.5 6.0 - 8.5 6.0 - 8.5 5.5 - 8.0 pH Units shall not deviate more than 0.5 units from ambient conditions for all seven classes. 4.5 - 7.0 7.0-8.6 6.8 - 8.8 8.1 8.1 8.1 Values for all waters are to be within the range of 6.5 - 9.0 ! pH shall be within the range of 6.5 to 9.0 except for natural causes. pH shall be within the range of 6.0 to 9.0 except for -14- ------- State and Water Use Indigenous Aquatic Life Lake Michigan Effluent Standards Acidity-Alkalinity (pH) Criteria natural causes. pH shall be within the range of 7.0 to 9.0 except for natural causes. (a) Except as provided below no person shall cause or allow -the pH in any effluent to be outside the range of 6.0 - 9.0. (b) The pH limitation is not subject to the averaging rule contained in Section 304.104 (a). (c) Effluents which are monitored so as to provide a permanent, continuous pH record may be outside of the listed range for a total of not more than fifteen minutes in any day provided the excursion is accidental and less than one pH unit above or below the listed range. (d) The pH 9 maximum limitation may be exceeded if the elevated pH level: 1) is lagoons, or caused entirely by algae in treatment in which case there is no upper pH limit; 2) is caused by the addition of alkali in the waste water treatment process to cause precipitation of barium, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, manganese, zinc, or other materials requiring such elevated pH for treatment, in which case the upper limit shall be pH 10 and subsection (c) shall not apply to the upper limit. (e) The burden of proving that paragraph (c) or (d) applies is upon the discharger. Indiana14 Aquatic Life Lake Michigan: Open Vater and Contiguous Harbor Areas Grand Calumet River; Indiana Harbor No pH values below 6.0 nor above 9.0, except daily fluctuations which exceed pH 9.0 and are correlated with photosynthetic activity, shall be permitted. No pH values below 7.5 nor above 8.5, except daily fluctuations which exceed pH 8.5 and are correlated with photosynthetic activity, may be tolerated. No pH values below 6.0 nor above 9.0, except daily fluctuations which exceed pH 9.0 and are correlated with photosynthetic activity, shall be permitted. -15- ------- State and ¥ater Use Natural Spawning, Rearing or Imprinting Areas.for Salmonid Fishes Migration Routes for Salmonid Fishes Acidity-Alkalinity (pH) Criteria 1. Trail Creek and tributaries upstream of U.S. Highway 35. 2. Little Calumet River and tributaries upstream (easterly) of the Wagner Road Bridge. The Wagner Road Bridge is located downstream of Chesterton at the southeast corner of the southwest quarter, Section 26, T37N, R6W, Porter County, Indiana. 3. Kintzele Ditch (Black Ditch) downstream to Lake Michigan. from Beverly Drive 4. Salt Creek Calumet River. above its confluence with the Little 5. Galena River and its tributaries LaPorte County pH: No values below 6.0 or above 9.0, except daily fluctuations which exceed pH 9.0 and are correlated with photosynthetic activity, may be tolerated. 1. Trail Creek from Highway 35 downstream to Lake Michigan. 2. Little Calumet River from Wagner Road Bridge downstream to Lake Michigan via Burns Ditch. 3. The St. Joseph River and its tributaries in St. Joseph County from the Twin Branch Dam in Mishavaka downstream to the Indiana-Michigan State Line. pH: No values below 6.0 or above 9.0, except daily fluctuations which exceed pH 9.0 and are correlated with photosynthetic activity, may be tolerated. Iowa All 15 6.5 - 9.0 with a maximum result of a waste discharge change o'f 0.5 units as a Kansas All 16 Artificial sources shall not cause the pH of surface waters to be below 6.5 nor above 8.5. -16- ------- State and Water Use Acidity-Alkalinity (pH) Criteria Kentucky17 Aquatic Life and Recreation Louisiana All 18 Maine19 Class A Class B-l Class B-2 Class C Class D Class SA Class SB1 Class SB2 Class SC Class SD •jn Maryland^ All Classes Massachusetts Inland Waters Class A PWS Class B Swim, F&WL 21 6.0 - 9.0 and shall not fluctuate more than one (1) pH unit over a period of 24 hours 6.0 - 9.0 unless natural conditions exceed this range or where otherwise specified. No discharge of wastes shall cause the pH of the waterbody to vary by more than one pH unit within the specified pH range for that segment where the discharge occurs. For criteria specific segments, see BNA Environment Reporter pages 791:1021 - 1056. None which would be in a range that would be harmful « to humans or aquatic life 6.0-8.5 6.0 - 8.5 6.0 - 8.5 No range that would impair uses 6.7 - 8.5 6.7 - 8.5 6.7-8.5 6.7 - 8.5 No range that would impair uses 6.5 -8.5 as naturally occurs 6.5 - 8.0; not more than 0.2 units outside naturally -17- ------- State and Water Use Class C F&WL, Rec. ma. Class SB Class SC Michigan' All 22 Acidity-Alkalinity (oH) Criteria occurring range 6.5 - 9.0; not more than 0.2 units outside naturally occurring range - 8.5; not more than 0.2 units outside naturally occurrring range Same as SA Same as SA R 323.1053. Hydrogen ion concentration. Rule 53. The hydrogen ion concentration expressed as DH shall be maintained vithin the range of 6.5 to 9.0 in all vaters of the state. Any artificially induced variation in the natural pH shall remain vithin this range and shall not exceed 0.5 units of pH. Minnesota 23 Class A Class B Class C Industrial Class A Class B Class C Agricultur< Class A Class B Navigation PH pH pH Consumption PH pH pH 2 and Wildlife PH pH 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0 - 8.5 - 9.0 - 9.0 - 8.5 - 9.0 - 9.0 - 8.5 - 9.0 and Waste Disposal Limited Resource Value Waters pH 6.0 - 9.0 -18- ------- State and Water Use Mississippi24 PWS, Shellfish, Rec., F&WL Acidity-Alkalinity (pH) Criteria The normal pH of the waters shall be 6.0 - 8.5 and shall not be caused to vary more than 1.0 unit; however, should the background pH be outside the limits, it shall not be changed more than 1.0 unit unless after the change the pH will fall within the limits, and the Commission determines that there will be no detrimental effect on stream usage as a result of the greater pH change. Missouri0 Effluent Limitations for; Missouri and 6.0 - 9.0 Mississippi Rivers Lakes and Reservoirs 6.0 - 9.0 Losing Stream 6.0 - 9.0 Wild and Scenic 6.0 - 9.0 Rivers and Ozark National Scenic Riverways and Drainage 6.0 - 9.0 All other waters Montana26 Class A-closed - PWS A-l - PWS pH: Effluents shall not cause pH to be outside the range of 6.5 - 9.0 in waters of the state. no change from natural pH 6.5 - 8.5 B-l.- PWS, Rec., F&WL, 6.5 - 8.5 Agr., Ind. B-2 - PWS, Rec., F&WL, 6.1 - 9.0 Agr., Ind. B-3 - PWS, Rec., F&WL, 6.5 - 9.0 Agr., Ind. C^l - Rec., F&WL, Agr., 6.5 - 8.5 Ind. £-2 - Rec., F&WL, Agr., 6.5 - 9.0 Ind. -19- ------- State and ¥ater Use Acidity-Alkalinity (pH) Criteria £-3 - Rec., F&WL, Agr., 6.5 - 9.0 Ind. E - Agr., Ind. (non- 6.5 - 9.5 food) In all cases except Class E Induced variation must be < 0.5 pH unit. Natural pH outside the range must be maintained without change. Natural pH above 7.0 shall be maintained above 7.0. Nebraska' All 27 6.5 - 9.0 unless pH values outside this range are due to natural conditions. Nevada"0 Classes A,B,& C 6.5 - 8.5 as a single value. PWS, Agr., F&WL, Rec., differs for each basin. Nav., Ind. Annual median range Class D Nav., F&WL, Agr., Ind. (non-food) Nev Haapshire Class A Class B Class C 29 Nev Jersey FW1 FW2 PL SE SC .30 6.0 - 9.0 as naturally occurs 6.5 - 8.0 or as naturally occurs 6.0 - 8.5 or as naturally occurs as naturally occurs 6.5 - 8.5 3.5 - 5.5 unless it is demonstrated that a pH level outside this range is necessary to protect the existing/designated uses. 6.5 - 8.5 Natural pH conditions shall prevail. -20- ------- State and Water Use Acidity-Alkalinity (pH) Criteria Mainstern Delaware River and Delaware Bay Zones 1C,ID,IE Zones 2,3,4,5,6 Zone IE Zone 2 Zones 3,4,5,6 New Mexico31 Coldwater Fishery High Quality Coldwater Fishery Marginal Coldwater Fishery Primary Contact Recreation Warmwater Fishery Nev York32 Class N AA, A, B, C D 6.0 - 8.5 6.5-8.5 Alkalinity not < 20 mg/1 20 - 100 mg/1 20 - 120 mg/1 FW1 = Rec., F&WL FW2 . F&WL, Rec., Agr., Ind., PVS PL » (Pineland Waters) Cranberry bog water supply, PWS, Rec., indigenous F&WL SE Rec. (Saline Waters and Estuaries) F&WL, Shellfish, SC = (Coastal Saline Waters) Shellfish, Rec., F&WL Zones 1C, ID, IE = Agr., Ind., PWS, F&WL, Rec. Zones 2, 3 = Same as Zone 1 plus Nav. Zones 4, 5, 6 = Ind., F&WL, Rec., Nav. 6.6 - 6.6 - 6.6 - 6.6 6.0 8.8 8.8 9.0 8.8 9.0 Natural conditions 6.5 - 8.5 6.0 - 9.5 -21- ------- State and ¥ater Use Acidi ty-Alkalini ty (pH) Cri teria SA, SB, SC, SD, I Normal range shall -not be extended by- more than one-tenth (0.1) pH unit A - Special (Inter-national Boundary waters) 6.7 - 8.5 Fresh Waters Class"AA - PWS and'any other usages Class A = PWS and any other usages Class B * Rec. and any other usages except PWS Class C = Fishing and any other uses except PWS and Primary Contact Rec. Class D = Secondary Contact Rec. but not Fish Saline Waters Class SA = Shellfish and Rec. Class SB = Rec. and any other use except Shellfish Class SC = Fishing and other uses except Shellfish and Primary Contact Rec. Class SD = All vaters not primarily for Rec., Shellfish, or Fish Special Waters Class A-Special = PWS, Rec., and other usages Class I = Secondary Contact Rec. and any other usage except Primary Contact Rec. and Shellfish North Carolina Fresh Waters Tidal Salt Waters pH shall be normal for waters in the area, which generally shall range between 6.0 - 9.0 except that swamp waters may have a low of 4.3. pH shall be normal for the waters in the area, which generally range between 6.8 - 8.5 except that swamp waters may have a low of 4.3. North Dakota 4 General Requirements 6.0 - 9.0 Class I Streams 7.0 - 8.5 -22- ------- State and ¥ater Use Class IA Streams Class II Streams Class III Streams Ohio35 Aquatic Life Habit. Lake Erie Outside Excepted Areas Ohio River Nuisance Prevention Oklahoma F&WL 36 Oregon 37 Acidity-Alkalinity (pH) Criteria Same as above 6.0 - 9.0 Same as Class II Class I = F&WL, Rec., Nav., PWS, Agr. ' Class•IA = Same as above Class II = Same as above except PWS, Agr. Class III = Ind., Agr. 6.5 - 9.0 pH 6.5 to 9.0 with no change within that range attributable to man-induced conditions. No pH value below 6.0 nor above 9.0. 6.5 - 9.0, acid mine drainage streams over sandstone geotype are exempt from the pH criterion. 6.5 - 9.0 unless pH values outside this range are due to natural conditions (no criteria given for other water uses) . North Coast-Lower Columbia Basin Mid Coast Basin PH values shall not fall outside the following ranges: Umpqua Basin Marine waters: 7.0-8,5 South Coast Basin Estuarine and fresh waters: 6.5 - 8.5 Rogue Basin Willamette Basin Sandy Basin Hood Basin Deschutes Basin " , John Day Basin Umatilla Basin , ...... Main Stem of Columbia River: • 7.0:- 8.5 '.".:•;'•'.. "•' All other Basin streams + waters: 6.5 - 8.5 Walla Walla Basin 6.5 - 8.5 -23- ------- State and ¥ater Use Acidity-Alkalinity (pH) Criteria Grande Rohde Basin Main Stem Snake River: 7.0 - 9.0 All other Basin streams: 6.5 - 8.5 Powder Basin All Basin Streams: Halheur River Basin Ovyhee Basin Halheur Lake Basin 6.5 - 9.5 7.0 - 9.0 7.0 - 9.0 7.0 - 9.0 Goose and Summer Lakes Basin Goose Lake: 7.5 - 9.5 All other Basin waters: 7.0 - 9.0 Klamath Basin 7.0 - 9.0 Pennsylvania 8 Depending on Stream and Water Use Alkalinity HkTI Equal to or > 20 mg/1 as CaCO-j, except where natural conditions are less. Where discharges are to waters vith 20 mg/1 or less alkalinity, the discharge should not further reduce the alkalinity of the receiving waters. Alk2: not < 20 mg/1 as CaC03. Alk,: Between 20 and 100 mg/1. Alk^: Between 20 and 120 mg/1. 6.0 6.5 7.0 6.0 9.0 8.5 9.0 8.5 Rhode Island Fresh Waters Class A Class B 39 as naturally occurs 6.5 - 8.0 or as naturally occurs -24- ------- State and Water Use Class C Class D Sea Waters Class SA Class SB Class SC South Carolina40 Fresh Water Class AA Class A-TROUT Class A (Svimming) Class B-TROUT Class B (PWS, F&WL) Salt Water Class SAA Class SA (Shellfish) Acidity-Alkalinity (pH) Criteria 6.0 - 8.5 6.0 - 9.0 6.8 - 8.5 . 6.8 - 8.5 6.5 - 8.5 Class A = PVS Class B = Agr.,Swim,F&WL Class C = Rec., F&WL, Ind. Class D = Fish migration Class SA = Shellfish, Svim, F&WL Class SB = Same as SA Class SC = Rec., F&WL, Nav. Class SB (Swimming) Class SC (Fishing) Natural Conditions 6.0 - 8.0 6.0 - 8.0 6.0 - 8.5 6.0 - 8.5 Natural Conditions Shall not vary more than 3/10 of pH unit above or below that of effluent-free waters in the same geographical area having a similar total salinity, alkalinity, and temperature, but not lower than 6.5 or above 8.5. Same as above except variance limited to 1/2 a pH unit; Same as above except variance 1 pH unit. -25- ------- State and Water Use Acidity-Alkalinity (pH) Criteria 41 South Dakota 1) Domestic Water Supply >6.5 and <9.0 units 2) Cold Water Permanent >6.6 and <8.6 Fish 3) Cold Water Marginal >6.5 and <8.8 Fish 4) Warm Water Permanent >6.5 and <9.0 Fish 5) Warm Water Semiperm- >6.3 and <9.0 anent Fish 6) Warm Water Marginal >6.0 and <9.0 7) Immersion Recreation >6.5 and <8.3 8) Limited Contact Rec. >6.0 and <9.0 9) Wildlife Propagation >6.0 and <9.5 Stock Watering 10) Irrigation Waters Not Available 11) Commerce & Industry >6.0 and <9.5 42 Tennessee Fish and Aquatic Life Other Classes (except Navigation) Texas .43 6.5 - 8.5 and shall not fluctuate more than 1.0 unit in this range over a period of 24 hours. 6.0 - 9.0 and shall not fluctuate more than 1.0 unit in this range over a period of 24 hours. By Segment Utah' 44 Domestic Source (1C) 6.5 - 9.0 Recreation & Aesthetics 6.5 - 9.0 (2A, 2B) -26- ------- State and Water Use Acidity-Alkalinity (pH) Criteria Aquatic Wildlife 6.5 - 9.0 (3A, 3B, 3G, 3D) Agriculture (4) 6.5 - 9.0 Vermont Class A Waters Class B Waters 1. pH - No variation from background conditions vithin the range of 6.5 and 8.0. 1. pH - Values shall be maintained within the range of 6.5 and 8.0. The change or rate of change in pH either upward or downward resulting from the discharge of wastes shall be controlled so as to prevent any undue adverse effect on aquatic biota, fish or wildlife. Class C Waters Virginia' All 46 47 1. pH - Values shall be maintained within the range of between 6.5 and 8.0. The change or rate of change in pH either upward or downward resulting from the discharge of wastes shall be . controlled so as to prevent any undue adverse effect on aquatic biota, fish or wildlife. 6.0 - 9.0 Washington Class AA (Extraordinary) Fresh Marine 6.5 - 8.5 with a man-caused variation 7.0 - 8.5 within a range of less than 0.2 units Class A (Excellent) and Class B(Good) Fresh 6.5 - 8.5 with a man-caused variation Marine Class C (Fair) Fresh Marine Lake Class 7.0 - 8.5 within a range of less than 0.5 units 6.5 - 9.0 with a man-caused variation 6.5 - 9.0 within a range of less than 0.5 units no measurable change from natural conditions -27- —2T9— ------- State and ¥ater Use Acidity-Alkalinity (nH> Criteria ------- |