&EFK United States Environmental Protection Agency Water ' Office of Water Regulations and Standards Washington, DC 20460 EPA 440/5-S8-034 September 1988 State Water Quality Standards Summary: Arkansas ------- ------- DISCLAIMER This 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. 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: PB89-141667 ------- ft ------- ARKANSAS Responsible Agency: Arkansas Dept. of Pollution Control and Ecology 8001 National Drive Little Rock 501-562-7444 72209 Standards Available From: Douglas Szenher Cpnunications Coordinator Arkansas Dept. of-Poll. Cont. 4 Ecology 8001 National Drive Little Rock 72209 501-562-7444 Fee: none Hailing List: no State Contact: Hr. Vince filubaugh Chief Mater Division Arkansas Dept. of Poll. Cont. & Ecology 8001 National Drive Little Rock 72209 501-562-7444 State Contact: Hr. John Biese Chief Ecologist Technical Services Arkansas Dept. of Poll. Cont. & Ecology 8001 National Drive Little Rock 72209 501-562-7444 State Narrative Language For: Antidegradation A. Existing instreai water uses and the level of water quality necessary to protect the existing uses shall be maintained and protected. B. Where the quality of the Haters exceeds levels necessary to support propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife and recreation in and on the water, that quality shall be laintained and protected unless the State finds, after full satisfaction the intergovernmental coordination and public participation provisions of the State's continuing planning process, that allowing lower water quality is necessary to accommodate important econosic or social development in the area in which the waters are located. In allowing such degradation or lower water quality, the State shall assure water quality adequate to protect existing uses fully. Further the State shall assure that (1) there shall be achieved the highest statutory and regulatory requienents for all new and existing point sources and, (2) that the provisions of the Arkansas Hater Quality Hanageient Plan be implemented with regard to nonpoint sources. C. Where high quality waters constitute an outstanding State or National resource such as those waters designated as extraordinary resource waters, ecologically sensitive or natural and scenic waterways, those uses shall' be Maintained and protected by (1) water quality controls, (2) maintenance of natural flow regime, (3! protection of instreaa habitat, and (4) pursuit of land management protective of the watershed. The Arkansas Soil and Water Conservation Ccmsission has responsibility for the regulation of the withdrawal of water fros streass and reserviors, and such withdrawls are not within the juristiction of this regulation. D. In those cases where potential water quality impairment associated with a thermal discharge is involved, the antidegradation policy and iapleaenting method shall be consistent with Section 316 of the Act. State Narrative Language For: Toxics Toxic material shall not be present in receiving waters, after mixing, in such quantities as to be toxic to huian, animal, planter aquatic life or to interfere with the normal propagation, growth and survival of the indigenous aquatic biota. Within the mixing zone there may be a zone of initial dilution which exceeds the acute toxicity. In no instance shall the entire mixing zone be acutely toxic. Compounds known to be persistent, cumulative and/or to. exhibit synergism with other waste or stream components shall be addressed on a case-by-case basis. Permitting of all toxic materials shall be in accordance with the toxic implementat- ion strategy found in the Continuing Planning Process. State Narrative Language For: Free From A. All waters shall be free from substances attributed to man-caused point or nonpoint source discharges in concentrations that produce undesirable aquatic life or result in the dominance of nuisance species. B. True color shall not be increased in any waters to the extent that it will interfere with the present or projected future uses of these waters. C, Taste and odor producing substances shall be limited in receiving waters to concentrations that will not interfere with the production of potable water by reasonable water treatment processes, or impart unpalatable flavor to food, fish or result in offensive odors arising from the waters or otherwise interfere with the reasonable use of the water. AR-1 ------- ARKANSAS D. Receiving waters shall have no distinctly visible solids, scui or foai of a persistent nature, nor shall there be any formation of slime, bottom deposits or sludge banks. E. Oil, grease or petrocheiical substances shall not be present in receiving waters to the extent that they produce globules or other residue or any visible, colored fill on the surface, or coat the banks and/or bottoss of the watercourses or adversely affect any of the associated biota. F. Toxic materials shall not be present in receiving waters in such quantities as to be toxic to huian, animal, plant or aquatic life or to interfere with the normal propagation, growth and survival of aquatic biota. State Narrative Language Fors Low Flow Streai Flows - Specific standards are based upon the assumption that existing flow conditions in streais shall continue without laterial change. The Mater Quality Standards shall apply at all times except during periods when flows are less than the average minimum 7-day flow which occurs once in ten years. Streams with regulated flow will be addressed on a case-by-case basis to maintain designated instream uses. State Narrative Language For: Mixing Zones The effects of wastes on the receiving stream shall be determined after the wastes have been thoroughly mixed with the streai water, but consideration will also be given to the quality of the waste effluent in determin- ing the adequacy of treatment. Outfall structures should be designed to minimize the extent of mixing zones and in the larger streais the zone of lixing shall not exceed 1/4 of the cross sectional area and/or volume of the streai flow. The retaining 3/4 of the streai shall be maintained as a zone of passage for swimming and drifting organisis, and shall reiain of such quality that streai ecosystems are not significantly affected. • In smaller streais, because of varying local physical and chemical conditions and biological phenomena, a site-specific detenination shall be iade on the percentage of river width necessary to allow passage of critical free-swi«ing and drifting organisis so that negligible or no effects are produced on their popula- tions. As a guideline no tore than 2/3 the width of sialler streams should be devoted to mixing zones thus leaving at least 1/3 free as a zone of passage. In lakes and reservoirs the size of mixing zones shall be defined by the Department of Pollution Control and Ecology on an individual basis, and the area shall be kept at a minimui. Mixing zones shall not prevent free passage of fish or significantly affect aquatic ecosystems. AR-2 ------- ARKANSAS Classifications Extraordinary Recreational and Aesthetic Value This beneficial use is a combination of the characteristics of the watershed expressed in the water quality and the riparian area. Outstanding National Resource Nater Pri«ary Contact Recreation Secondary Contact Recreation Public Nater Supply Industrial Hater Supply Agricultural Hater Supply Other Uses Harmater Fishery Coolnater Fishery Trout Fishery This beneficial use is for waters thought to constitute an outstanding national resource, such as Haters of National and State Parks and Wildlife refuges and Haters of exceptional ecological significance. This beneficial use designateds Haters where secondary activities like boating, fishing, or Hading are involved. Designates Haters where secondary activities like boating, fishing, or wading are involved. Designates nater nhich is suitable, in its raw fort, to be utilized for a public water supply. Conditioning or treatment lay be necessary prior to distribution in a public water systei. Designates water which is suitable for process or cooling purposes, fluality criteria vary nith the specific type, of process involved and the nater supply •ay require prior treatment or conditioning. . Designates Haters which are suitable for irrigation of crops and/or consuiption by livestock. This category of beneficial use is generally used to designate uses not dependent upon water quality, such as hydroelectric power generation and navigation. • Hater which is suitable for the propagation of indigenous wariwater species of fish. Hater which is suitable for the propagation of indigenous coolwater species of fish, generally, but not exclusively, characterized by the presence of stallnouth bass. Hater which is suitable for the growth and survival of trout. AR-3 ------- ARKANSAS Physical pH Upper Value Lower Value Teiperature Change Upper Value Chlorides Upper Value Sulfates Upper Value Total Dissolved Solids Upper Value Nutrients Phosphorus Upper Value Secondary Upper Liiit Toxic Netals Pesticides Aldrin Upper Value Dieldrin Upper Value Secondary Upper Liiit Endrin Upper Value Secondary Upper Liiit Toxaphene Upper Value Secondary Upper Liiit Organics PCBs Upper Value Bacteria Fecal Colifon Upper Value Secondary Upper Liiit fill Extraordinary Outstanding Nat.. Priiary Contact Classes 9.0 6.0 250 ig/L 250 ig/L 500 ig/L 100 ug/L 50 ug/L 3 ug/L 2.5 ug/L 0.0019 ug/L 0.18 ug/L 0.0023 ug/L 2.4 ug/L 0.013 ug/L 0.014 ug/L Narr. Narr. Narr. Narr. AR-4 ------- ARKANSAS Secondary Conta.. Public Hater Su.. Industrial Kate.. Agricultural Na. Physical Teiperature Upper Value Narr. Narr. Nutrients Toxic Metals Pesticides Qrganics Bacteria Fecal Colifort Upper Value Narr. Secondary Upper Liiit Narr. AR-5 ------- ARKANSAS Other Uses Karma ter Fishe.. Coolwater Fishe.. Trout Fishery Physical Dissolved Oxygen Loner Value Teiperature Upper Value Teiperature Change Upper Value Nutrients Toxic Hetals Pesticides Organics Bacteria 5.0 ig/L 90 F 5 F 6.0 ig/L 86 F 5 F 68 5 AR-6 ------- |