United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
Regulations and Standards
Washington, DC 20460
EPA 440/&S8-044
September 1988
&EFA
State Water Quality
Standards Summary:
Georgia
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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: PB89-141766 .
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BEORSIA
Responsible Agency:
Seorgia Department of Natural Resources
Environmental Protection Division
Floyd Tower East, Suite 1252
205 Butler Street SE -
Atlanta 30334
404r656-3500
Standards Available From:
Jack Dozier, Chief, Hater Protection Branch
Dept. of Natural Resources, 6ft. Envir.
Prot. Div.j Floyd Toner East, Suite 1252
205 Butler Street, SE
Atlanta 30334
404-656-4708 Fee: Mailing list: no
State Contacts
Jii Chandler
Manager, Water Qual.
Hgit. Unit, Dept. of Natural Resources
6A Envir. Prot. Div.j Floyd Tower East,
Suite 1252; 205 Butler Street, SE
Atlanta 30334 404-656-4905
State Contacts
No1 ton Johnson
Assistant Chief
Mater Protection Branch, Dept.of Natural
Resources; Floyd Totter East, Suite 1252
205 Butler Street, SE
Atlanta 30334 404-656-4708
State Narrative Language Fors Antidegradation
Those waters in the State whose existing quality is better than the tiniiui levels established in standards
on the date standards becoie effective will be iaintained at high quality; with the State having the power to
authorize new developments, when it has been affirmatively demonstrated to the State that a change is
justifiable to provide necessary social or economic development; and provided further that the level of
treatment required is the highest and best practicable under existing technology to protect existing
beneficial water uses. Existing instream water uses and the level of water quality necessary to protect the
existing uses shall be maintained and protected.
State Narrative Language Fors Toxics
All waters shall be free from toxic substances discharged from municipalities, industries or other sources in
aaounts, concentrations or combinations which are harmful to humans, animal or aquatic life.
State Narrative Language Fors Free From
A. All waters shall be free from materials associated with municipal or domestic sewage, industrial waste or
any other waste which will settle to form sludge deposits that become putrescent, unsightly or otherwise
objectionable.
B. All waters shall be free from oil, scum and floating debris associated with municipal or domestic sewage,
industrial waste or other discharges in amounts sufficient to be unsightly or to interfere with legitimate
water uses.
C. All waters shall be free from material related to municipal, industrial or other discharges which produce
turbidity, color, odor or other objectionable conditions which interfere with legitimate water uses.
D. All waters shall be free from toxic, corrosive, acidic and caustic substances discharged from municipal-
ities, industries or other sources in amounts, concentrations or combinations which,are harmful to humans,
anisnals or aquatic life.
State Narrative Language For: Low Flow
Streasfiows - Specific criteria or standards set for the various parameters apply to all flows on regulated
streams. On unregulated streams, they shall apply to all stream-flows equal to or exceeding the 7-day,
10-year minimum flow..
State Narrative Language For: Mixing Zones
Effluent released to streams or iapounded waters shall be fully and homogeneously dispersed and mixed insofar
as practical with the main flow or water body by appropriate methods at the discharge point. Use of a
reasonable and limited mixing zone may be permitted on receipt of satisfactory evidence that such a zone is
necessary and that it will not create an objectionable or damaging pollution condition.
GA-1
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GEORGIA
Classifications:
Drinking
Hater Supplies
Recreation
Fishing, Prop, of
Fish, Shellf., Same
4 Other Aquat. Life
Agricultural
Industrial
Navigation
Hild River
Urban Streai
Scenic River
Those raw water supplies requiring approved treatment to ieet the requiretents
of the Environmental Protection Division for huian consuiptibn and food-
processing; or for any other use requiring Mater of a lower quality.
General recreational activities such as water skiing, boating, and swimming, or
for any other use requiring water of a lower quality. These criteria are not to
be interpreted as condoning water contact sports in proxiiity to sewage or
industrial waste discharges regardless of treatment requirements.
Suitable for these uses and any use requiring water of a lower quality.
For general agricultural uses such as stock watering and irrigating; or for any
other use requiring water of a lower quality.
For processing and cooling water with or without special treatment; or for any
other use requiring water of a lower quality.
To provide for cotiercial ship traffic and protection of seaien or crews.
This classification will be applicable to any waters of the State when so
designated by an authorized State of Federal Agency and will be effective
simultaneously with that Agency's proper designation.
For all waters designated as 'Wild River,* there will be no alteration of
natural water quality froi any source.
This classification is applicable to streams in highly developed urban areas.
The waters so classified are to be aesthetically compatible to adjacent areas.
This classification will be applicable to any waters of the State when so
designated by an authorized State or Federal Agency and will be effective
siiultaneously with that Agency's proper designation.
For all waters designated as "Scenic River,' there shall be no alteration of
natural water quality from any source.
GA-2
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GEORGIA
All
Classes
Physical
pH
Upper Value
Loner Value
Dissolved Oxygen
Lexer Value
Teiperature
Upper Value
Tesperature Change
Upper Value
Nutrients
Toxic Metals
Arsenic
Upper Value
Chroiiui - Total
Upper Value
Cyanide
Upper Value
Pesticides
2,4 D
Upper Value
Endrin
Upper Value
Lindane
Upper Value
Methoxychlor
Upper Value
Organics
Phenols
Upper Value
Bacteria
Fecal Colifon
Upper Value
50 ug/L
20 ug/L
3.5 ug/L
100 ug/L
0.002 ug/L
0.08 ug/L
0.03 ug/L
5.01 ug/L
Drinking
8.5
6.0
5.0 ig/L
90 F
5 f
Recreation
8.5
6.0
5.0 ig/L
90 F
5 F
Fishing, Prop.
8.5
6.0
5.0 ig/L
90 F
5 F
Narr.
Narr.
Narr.
GA-3
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GEORGIA
Agricultural
Industrial
Navigation
Nild River
Physical
pH
Upper Value
Lower Value
Dissolved Oxygen
Lower Value
Teiperature
Upper Value
Teiperature Changes
Upper Value
Secondary Upper Liiit
Nutrients
Toxic Metals
Pesticides
Organics
Bacteria
Fecal Colifon
Upper Value
8.5
6.0
3.0
90
5
1.5
•g/L
F
F
F
8.5
6.0
3.0
90
5
1.5
•g/L
F
F
F
8.5
6.0
3.0
90
5
1.5
•g/L
F
F
F
Narr.
Narr.
GA-4
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GEORGIA
Scenic River
Physical
Nutrients
Toxic Metals
Pesticides
Organics
Bacteria
GA-5
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