United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
Regulations and Standards
Washington, DC 20460
EPA 440/5-88-053
September 1988
xvEPA
Water
State Water Quality
Standards Summary:
Louisiana
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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: PB89-141857
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LOUISIANA
Responsible Agency:
Louisiana Department of Environiental Quality
Hater Pollution Control Division
P.O. Box 44091
Baton Rouge
504-342-6363
70804-4091
Standards Available From;
Louisiana Dept. of Environmental Quality
Water Pollution Control Division
P.O. Box 44091
Baton Rouge 70804-4091
504-342-6363 Fee: yes Hailing Lists
no
State Contact:
Hr. Nike Schurtz
Program Manager
Standards and Water Quality Management
Louisiana Dept. of Environiental Quality
P.O. Box 44091
Biton Rouge 70804-4091 504-342-6363
State Contact:
Mr. Dugan Sabins
HQS Coordinator
Louisiana Department of Env. Quality
Hater Pollution Control Division
P.O. Box 44091
Baton Rouge 70804-4091 504-342-6363
State Narrative Language For: Antidegradation
It is the policy of the State that all interstate, intrastate, and coastal Haters, including any portions
thereof, whose existing quality exceeds the approved Hater quality standards or otherwise supports an unusual
abundance and diversity of fish and wildlife resources Hill be maintained at their existing high quality.
Under special circumstances, the state may choose to loner Hater quality in streams that exceed the Standards
to allow for necessary and justifiable economic and/or social development, but not to the extent of violating
the established Water Quality Standards. No such changes, however, Hill interfere with or become injurious
to the existing Hater uses. The state administrative authority Hill not approve any wastewater discharge or
certify any activity for federal permit that would cause Hater quality or use impairment of state or inter-
state waters.' Haste discharges must comply with applicable state and federal laws for the attainment of Hater
quality goals. Any new, existing, or expanded point source or nonpoini source discharging into state Haters,
including any land clearing which is the subject of a federal permit application, will be required to provide
the necessary level of waste treatment to protect state waters as determined by the administrative authority.
Further, there shall be achieved the highest statutory and regulatory requirements for all existing point
sources and best management practices (BtlP's) for non point sources pursuant to Section 208 of the Clean Hater
Act. Additionally, no degradation shall be allowed in high quality waters which constitute an outstanding
natural resource. Consistent with the provisions of the Clean Hater Act, the state will keep the United
States Environeental Protection Agency (EPA) informed of its activities and will furnish the EPA information-
al reports, in such form as to allow the EPA, to carry out its function under the Clean Hater Act. The state
will consult and cooperate with the EPA on matters that are the proper consideration of the federal agency;
the EPA will reciprocate in matters that are the proper consideration of the state.
State Narrative Language For: Toxics
All waters shall be free from such concentrations of substances attributable to wastewater or other discharges
sufficient to injure, be toxic or produce demonstrated adverse physiological response in humans, animals,
fish, shellfish, wildlife, or plants.
Toxic substances shall not be present in quantities that alone or in combination will be toxic to plant or
anisal life. Concentrations of persistent toxic substances for which no numerical criteria are given in the
standards shall not exceed the 96-hour LC50/100 (one-hundredth of the 96-hour LC50). Persistent toxic sub-
stances are defined herein as refractory substances subject to very limited or no biodegradation and/or
detoxification and subject to food chain bioaccumulation; they include but are not limited to pesticides,
PCB's and heavy metals that are designated by EPA as priority pollutants. Concentrations of non-persistent,
biodegradable toxic substances for which no numerical criteria are given in the standards, shall not exceed
the 96-hour LC50/10 (one-tenth of the 96-hour LC50). Bioassay techniques comparable with those given in the
latest edition of Standard Methods for the Examination of Hater and Hastewater will be used in evaluating
toxicity using specific methods, dilutions, and species of aquatic animals best suited to the area of concern.
State Narrative Language For: Free From
All waters shall be free froa such concentrations of substances attributable to wastewater or other discharges
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LOUISIANA
sufficient to:
A, settle to form objectionable deposits;
B, float as debris, scui, oil, or other tatter to fon nuisances;
C. result in objectionable color, odor, taste, or turbidity;
D. injure, be toxic or produce denonstrated adverse physiological response in huians, aniials, fish, shell-
fish, wildlife, or plants; or
E. produce undesirable or nuisance aquatic life.
State Narrative Language Fors Low Flow
Interfiittent Stream Policy - Certain watercourses lay be considered for application of an excepted water use
classification on the basis of being an intermittent stream. Only those streams which have low flow condi-
tions or water levels that preclude the attainment of recreation and the propagation of desirable species of
fish and wildlife will be considered for classification as intermittent. At a minimum, the 'Beneral
Criteria' of these Standards shall apply to all watercourses approved as intermittent streams.
In order for a stream to be considered for this excepted water use classification the stream must not have a
sufficient drainage area to maintain a perennial flow and/or the 7Q10 for the stream must be less than a
projected or measured 0.1 cfs. The no flow condition must be natural and not a result of man's activities.
The no flow condition is generally characterized by dry stream reaches during.dry weather conditions; however,
the watercourse may exhibit flow or contain pools for short periods after rainfall.
The State administrative authority and the EPA must approve and designate a stream for the intermittent
classification. Candidate streams for intermittent status will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
In the event that a wastewater discharge is proposed for an approved and designated intermittent stream the.
following conditions must be met:
1, The discharge will not by itself or in conjunction with other discharges violate the 'General Criteria" of
State of Louisiana Water Quality Standards.
2. The discharge will not by itself or in conjunction with other discharges violate the numerical criteria oi!
any perennial stream which receives water from an intermittent stream.
3. The discharge will be disinfected to protect from health hazards that may result from inadvertent primary
contact.
State Narrative Language For: Mixing Zones
Nixing zones are exempted from criteria for those substances that are rendered non-toxic by dilution, dissipa-
tion or transformation. Mixing zones must, however, be defined and have identifiable limits, and the waters
outside of mixing zones must meet the Standards for that particular body of water, Hixing must be accomplish-
ed as quickly as possible to insure that the waste is mixed with the allocated dilution water in the smallest
practicable area.
A mixing zone shall not significantly affect a nursery area for aquatic life or habitat for waterfowl nor any
area approved by the state for shellfish harvesting. A mixing zone shall not include an existing public
water supply intake nor include any other existing water supply intake if such mixing zone would significantly
impair the purposes for which the supply is utilized.
The state shall on a case-by-case basis spe.cify definable geometric limits for mixing zones.
As a guideline, the mixing zone in canals, rivers, streaas, and other flowing waterbodies shall be no more
than one-third the width of the receiving stream at the point of discharge. A mixing zone shall not overlap
another nixing zone in such a manner, or be so large, as to impair any designated water use in the receiving
streae when considered as a whole.
In lakes, estuaries, bays, lagoons, and sounds, the area of mixing shall not be so large as to cause impair-
eent of a designated use and will be defined by the Office on a case-by-case basis.
In rivers, streams, reservoirs, lakes, estuaries and coastal waters, zones of passage are continuous water
routes of the volume, area and quality necessary to allow passage of free-swimming and drifting organisms
with no significant effects produced, on their populations. These zones must be provided wherever mixing zones
are allowed.
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Classifications:
Primary Contact Defined as any recreational or other water use in which there is prolonged and
Recreation intimate contact with the water involving condiserable risk of ingesting water
in quantities sufficient to pose a significant health hazard such as swimming,
water skiing, skin diving, wading, and other sitilar activities.
Secondary Contact
Recreation
fish and
Wildlife Propagation
Public Hater Supply
Shellfish
Propagation
Agriculture
Outstanding Natural
Resource Maters
Defined as any recreational or other water use in which contact with the water
is either incidental or accidental and in which the probability of ingesting
appreciable quantities of water is iinital, such as fishing, conercial or
recreational boating and any liiited contact incident to shoreline activity.
Includes the use of water for preservation and reproduction of aquatic biota
such as indigenous species of fish and invertebrates as well as reptiles,
aiphibians and other wildlife associated with the aquatic environment.
Refers to the use of water for huian consumption and general household use.
Is the use of water to sufficiently maintain the health of biological systems
which support commercially important species of shellfish primarily oyster, and
to protect the health of human consumers of these shellfish.
Involves the use of water for crop spraying, irrigation, livestock watering,
poultry operations, and other farm purposes, not related to human consumption.;
Includes areas designated for preservation, protection, reclanation or
enhancement of wilderness and aesthetic qualities and ecological regimes, such
as Louisiana natural and scenic streams, and waters within wildlife refuges.
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All Priiary Contact Secondary Conta.. Fish and
Classes
Physical
Nutrients
Toxic Metals
Pesticides
Qrganics
Bacteria
Fecal Colifori
Upper Value Narr. Narr.
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Public Hater Su.. Shellfish
Agriculture Outstanding Nat.
Physical
Nutrients
Toxic Metals
Pesticides
Drganics
Bacteria
Fecal Colifori
Upper Value
Total editors
Upper Value
Narr.
Narr.
Narr.
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