United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
Regulations and Standards
Washington, DC 20460
EPA 440/5-66-05?
September 1988
Water
State Water Quality
Standards Summary:
Minnesota
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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: PB89-141907
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MINNESOTA
Responsible Agency
Minnesota Pollution Agency
520 North Lafayette Road
St. Paul
612-296-6300
55155
Standards Available From:
Docuients Division, Dept. of Administration
117 University Avenue
State Contact:
rtr. Jerry Hinslow
Principal Engineer
Prograi Developient Section
520 North Lafayette Road
St. Paul
55155
612-296-7255
State Contact:
St. Paul
612-297-300
55155
Fee: $15.00
Hailing List: yes
State Narrative Language For: Antidegradation
The waters of the state lay, in a state of nature, have soie characteristics or properties approaching or exc-
eeding the liiits specified in the water quality standards. The standards shall be construed as liiiting the
addition of pollutants of human activity from either point or nonpoint source discharges to those of total
natural origin, Nhere such be present, so that in total the specified liiiting concentrations »till not be
exceeded in the waters by reason of such controllable additions. Where the background level of the natural
origin is reasonably definable and normally of lower quality than the specified standard, the natural level
•ay be used as the standard for controlling the addition of pollutants of human activity which are comparable
in nature and significance with those of natural origin. The natural background level lay be used instead of
the specified water quality standard as a maximum limit of the addition of pollutants, in those instances
where the natural levells consistently of better quality than the specified standard and reasonable
justification exists for preserving the quality to that found in a state of nature.
In the adoption of standards for individual waters of the state, the agency will be guided by the standards
herein but iay sake reasonable modifications of the saie on the basis of evidence brought forth at a public
hearing if it is shown to be desirable and in the public interest to do so in order to encourage the best use
of the waters of the state or the lands bordering such waters.
Please refer to the 'EPA Hater Quality Criteria Summaries: A Compilation of State/Federal CriteriaVfor
additional antidegradation language for Minnesota.
State Narrative Language For: Toxics
For contaainants other than heat, the 96-hour median tolerance limit for indigenous fish and fish food
organises should not be exceeded at any point in the mixing zone.
Toxic substances: None at levels acutely toxic to humans or other animals or plant life, or directly damaging
to real property.
Unspecified substances shall not be allowed in such quantities or concentrations that will impair the
specified uses of Limited Resource Value waters.
Questions concerning the permissable levels, or changes in the same, of a substance or combination of
substances, of undefined toxicity to fish or other biota shall be resolved in accordance with the latest
methods recommended by the US EPA. The agency shall consider the recommendations of the Quality Criteria for
Hater, US EPA 1986, in making determinations under this part. Toxic substances shall not exceed one-tenth
of the 96-hour median tolerance limit (TLH) as a water quality standard except that other application factors
shall be used when justified on the basis of available scientific evidence.
State Narrative Language For: Free From
No sewage, industrial waste or other wastes shall be discharged! into any intrastate waters of the state so as
to cause any nuisance conditions, such as the presence of significant amounts of floating solids, scum, oil
slicks, excessive suspended solids, material discolorations, obnoxious odors, gas ebullition, deleterious
sludge deposits, undesirable slimes or fungus growths, or other offensive or harmful effects.
Ipoint and nonpoint sources
MN-1
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State Narrative Language For: Low Flow
Discharges of sewage, industrialists or other waste effluents shall be controlled so that the Hater quality
standards will be iaintained at all stream flows which are equal to or exceeded by 90Z of the seven consecu-
tive daily average flows or record (the lowest weekly flow with a once in ten year recurrence interval) for
the critical month(s). The period of record for determining the specific flow for the stated recurrence
interval, where records are available, shall include at least the iost recent ten years of record, including
flow records obtained after establishment of flow regulation devices, if any. Such calculations shall not lie
applied to lakes and their embayments which have no comparable flow recurrence interval. Where stream flow
records are not available, the flow may be estimated on the basis of available information on the watershed
characteristics, precipitation, run-off and other relevant data.
Allowance shall not be made in the design of treataent works for Ion stream flow augaentation unless such
flow augmentation of minimum flow is dependable and controlled under applicable laws or regulations.
State Narrative Language For: Mixing Zones
Means for expediting mixing and dispersion of sewage, industrial waste, or other waste effluents in the
receiving, interstate waters are to be provided so far as practicable when deemed necessary by the Agency to
maintain the quality of the receiving interstate waters in accordance with applicable standards. Hixing zones
can be established by the Agency on an individual basis, with primary consideration being given to the follow-
ing guidelines:
(a) Hixing zones in rivers shall permit an acceptable passageway for the movement of fish;
(b) The total mixing zone(s) at any transect of the stream should contain no more than 252 of the cross-
sectional area and/or volume of flow of the stream, and should not extend over more than 501 of the widths
(c) Hixing zone characteristics shall not be lethal to aquatic organisms;
(d) For contaminants other than heat, the 96 hour median tolerance limit for indigenous fish and fish food
organisms should not be exceeded at any point in the mixing zone;
(e) Hixing zones should be as small as possible and not intersect spawning or nursery area, migratory routes,
water intakes, nor mouths of rivers; and
(f) Overlapping of mixing zones should be minimized and measures taken to prevent adverse synergistic
effects. This provision shall also apply in cases where a Class 7 water is tributary to a Class 2 water.
MN-2
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MINNESOTA
Classifications*
Domestic Consumption
Fisheries and
Recreation
Industrial
Consumption
Agriculture and
Wildlife
Aesthetic Enjoyment
and Navigation
Other Uses
Liiited Resource
Value Haters
To include all interstate Haters which are or lay be used as a source of supply
for drinking, culinary or food processing use or other domestic purposes, and
for which quality control is or lay be necessary to protect the public health,
safety or welfare.
To include all interstate waters which are or lay be used for fishing, fish
culture, bathing or any other recreational purposes, and for which quality
control is or lay be necessary to protect aquatic or terrestrial life, or the
public health, safety or welfare.
Criteria on the next 2 pages that are folowed by an (A) apply to waters that
support salmonid populations. Criteria followed with a (B) apply to waters that
do not support salionid populations.
To include all interstate waters which are or lay be used as a source of supply
for industrial process or cooling water, or any other industrial or commercial
purposes, and for which quality control is or lay be necessary to protect the
public health, safety or welfare.
To include all interstate waters which are or lay be used for any agricultural
purposes, including stock watering and irrigation, or by waterfowl or other
wildlife, and for which quality control is or iay be necessary to protect
terrestrial life or the public health, safety or welfare.
To include all intrastate waters which are or may be used for any form of water
transportation or navigation, or fire prevention, and for which quality control
is or may be necessary to protect the public health, safety or welfare.
To include interstate waters which are or lay serve the above listed uses or any
other beneficial uses not listed herein, including without limitation any such
uses in this or any other state, province, or nation of any interstate waters
flowing through or originating in this state, and for which quality control is
or lay be necessary for the above declared purposes, or to confori with the
requireients of the legally constituted state or national agencies having
jurisdiction over such interstate waters, or any other considerations the Agency
•ay deefi proper.
This class includes surface waters of the state which are of limited value as a
water resource and where water quantities are intermittent. These waters shall
be"protected so as to allow secondary body contact use, to preserve the
groundwater for use as a potable water supply, and to protect aesthetic
qualities of the water. It is the intent of the agency that very few waters be
classified as limited resource value waters.
MN-3 '
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MINNESOTA
All
Classes
Physical
PH
Upper Value
Loner Value
Dissolved Oxygen
Loner Value
Teiperature
Upper Value
Secondary Upper Liiit
Teiperature Change
Upper Value
Secondary Upper Liiit
Turbidity
Upper Value
Secondary Upper Liiit
Chlorides
Upper Value
Sulfates
Upper Value
Total Dissolved Solids
Upper Value
Nutrients
Anonia (un-ion as H]
Upper Value
Secondary Upper Liiit
Nitrates
Upper Value
Toxic Hetals
Arsenic
Upper Value
Secondary Upper Liiit
Cadiiui
Upper Value
Chroiiui - Total
Upper Value
Secondary Upper Liiit
Chroiiui - Hexavalent
Upper Value
Copper
Upper Value
Cyanide
Upper Value
Secondary Upper Liiit
Iron
Upper Value
Lead
Upper Value
Doiestic Consul.. Fisheries and
9.0
6.5
7(A) 5(B) ig/L
Industrial
9.0
6.0
5
25
250 ig/L
250 ig/L
500 ig/L
86
90
+5
*3
10
25
50
F
F
F
F
•g/L
0.016 ig/L
.04(8) ig/L
10.0 ig/L as N
0.01 ig/L
0.05 ig/L
0.01 ig/L
0.05 ig/L
1 ig/L
0.01 ig/L
0.2 ig/L
0.3 ig/L
0.05 ig/L
.02(A) ig/L
.05(8) tg/L
0.01 ig/L
0.02 ig/L
•g/L
Warr.
MN-4
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MINNESOTA
Zinc
Upper Value
Bariut
Upper Value
. Manganese
Upper Value
Seleniui
Upper Value
Silver
Upper Value
Pesticides
Qrganics
Phenol
Upper Value
Bacteria
Fecal Colifon
Upper Value
Total Colifori
Upper Value
All
Classes
Doiestic Consul.. Fisheries and
5 tg/L
1 ig/L
0.05 ig/L
0.01 ig/L
0.05 ig/L
Industrial
0.001 ig/L 0.01 .ig/L
Narr.
1 HPN/100 il
MN-5
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MINNESOTA
Agriculture and Aesthetic Enjoy.. Other Uses
Liaited Resourc.
Physical
pH
Upper Value
Lower Value
Sulfates
Upper Value
Total Dissolved Solids
Upper Value
Nutrients
Toxic Metals
Boron
Upper Value
Pesticides
Organics
Bacteria
Fecal Colifon
Upper Value
8.5
6.0
10 ig/L
700 §g/L
9.0
6.0
0,5 ig/L
9.0
6.0
Narr.
MN-6
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