r/EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Water
Office of Water
Regulations and Standards
Washington, DC 20460
EPA 440/5-88-064
September 1988
State Water Quality
Standards Summary:
Nebraska
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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: PB89-141964 "_ '
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NEBRASKA
Responsible Agency:
Nebraska Department of Environiental Control
Box 94887, Statehouse Station
301 Centennial Mall South
Lincoln, NE
68509
State Contacts
Mr. Dave Jensen
Section Chief
Hater Prograis and Assessment
Department of Environiental Control
Lincoln, NE
68509
402-471-4227
Standards Availabl
Mater Programs and Assessment Section
Department of Environmental Control
301 Centennial Mall-South, Box 94877
e From
Lincoln
68509
402-471-4700 Fee: no
Mailing List: yes
State Contact:
Mr. Steve Nalker
Nat. Prg. Specialist
Hater Programs and Assessment
Department of Environmental Control
301 Centennial Mall South
Lincoln, NE
68509
402-471-4700
State Narrative Language For: Antidegradation
1. The environmental quality of surface waters, consistent with uses applied in these standards, shall be
maintained and protected. Hater quality degradation which would adversely affect existing uses will not be
allowed.
2. State Resource Haters - Class A - These are surface waters which constitute an outstanding State or Nat-
ional resource, such as waters within national or state parks, national forests or wildlife refuges, and
waters of exceptional recreational or ecological significance. Haters which provide a unique habitat for
federally designated endangered or threatened species and rivers designated under the Hild and Scenic Rivers
Act are also included. The quality of these waters shall be maintained and protected.
3. State Resource Haters - Class B - These are surface waters which possess an existing quality which exceeds
levels necessary to maintain recreational and/or aquatic life uses. The existing water quality of these
surface waters shall be maintained and protected. However, the State may choose, in accordance with Neb. Rev.
Stat. 81-1513 (Reissue 1981), to allow lower water quality as a result of important econoaic or social devel-
opsefit. There shall be achieved the highest statutory and regulatory requirements for all new or existing
point sources and all cost effective and reasonable best management practices for nonpoint source control.
In cases where potential water quality impairment associated with a thermal discharge is involved, the method
of Upleaentation of this antidegradation policy shall be consistent with Section 316 of the Clean Hater Act
of 1977, 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq. (the "Act').
4, In iaplesenting this policy, the Department will follow the procedures outlined in the State's Continuing
Planning Process.
State Narrative Language For: Toxics
Hastes or toxic substances introduced directly or indirectly by human activity in concentrations that would
degrade the use shall not be allowed.
Surface waters of the State shall be free from toxic substances in toxic amounts. No toxic substances alone
or in coibination with other substances in concentrations rendering the receiving water unsafe or unsuitable
for aquatic life will be allowed. (In iaplementing these criteria, the Department will follow procedures
outlined in the State's Continuing Planning Process which comply with the federal water quality standards, 40
C.F.R. 131.11 (1986)).
Surface waters shall be free of radionuclides or toxic substances in concentrations or combinations which may
produce undesirable physiological responses in huians.
State Narrative Language For: Free From
No toxic substances alone or in combination with other substances in concentrations rendering the receiving
water unsafe or unsuitable for aquatic life will be allowed.
Haters shall be free from human induced pollution which cause:
1, noxious odors;
2. floating, suspended, colloidal, or settleable materials that produce objectionable films, colors,
turbidity, or deposits; and
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3i the occurrence of undesirable or nuisance aquatic life.
State Narrative Language For: Low Flow
These standards, except criteria associated with aesthetics and public health (Chapter 4-005), will not apply
to: .
i. Waters during periods when the flow is less than 0.1 cfs or the 7-day, 10-year low flow, unless an
assigned beneficial use still exists under these conditions. Flow conditions apply to rivers and streais and
not to lakes and reservoirs. ,
2. Effluent dotinated streets during periods when the daily flow is totally composed of effluent, excluding
ainor aicunts of bank seepage.
State Narrative Language For: Mixing Zones
The Hater Quality Standards shall apply at and beyond the tixing zone boundaries. The tixing rone exception
does not apply to fecal coliforai criteria in waters designated a priiary contact recreational use. The
boundary liiits of the lixing zone shall be a specified linear distance, volute, or area, and should ieet the
conditions listed below unless the physical characteristics of the receiving waters require special consider-
ations. In the latter case the Departtent will establish iixing zones applicable to the physical characteris-
tic of the receiving waters in such a tanner that will not affect the assigned beneficial uses.
(a) The tixing zone should be kept as stall as possible and shall not be of a size or shape that would itpair
or contribute to the itpainent of water use.
(b) The eixing zone shall allow for a continuous zone of passage for aquatic life.
(c) The iixing zone shall not overlap other tixing zones if beneficial uses are adversely affected.
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Classifications
Prisary Contact
Recreation
Class A /
Secondary Contact
Recreation
Class 6
Coldwater Habitat
Class A
Coldwater Habitat
Class B
Harmwater Habitat
Class A
Narswater Habitat
Class B
Hater Supply
Public Drinking
Hater
Agricultural
Class A
Agricultural
Class B
Industrial
Aesthetics and
Public Health
Priaary contact recreation includes activities where the body lay coie into
prolonged or intiiate contact with the Hater, such that water lay be
accidentally ingested, it is not intended to be used as a potable water supply
unless acceptable treatient is applied. These waters lay be used for swiiiing,
water skiing, canoeing, and similar activities.
Secondary contact recreation includes activities where the body usually does not
coie into prolonged or intiiate contact with the water. It is very unlikely
that the water will be ingested nor will sensitive body organs (e.g., eyes,
ears, nose, etc.) be exposed. The waters may be used for fishing, hunting, and
siiilar activities.
These waters provide, or could provide, water quality and habitat conditions
(e.g., flow, substrate, cover) which support a significant salionid (trout)
population. All waters which support a naturally reproducing trout population
are included.
These are waters where coldwater aquatic life (including salionid populations)
is liiited by natural water quality or habitat conditions. These waters will
not support salionid spawning, but lay support a salionid population if
periodically stocked. Haters which serve as seasonal pathways for salnonid .
ligration are included.
These waters provide, or could provide, water quality and habitat conditions
(e.g. flow, substrate, cover) which maintain a wide variety of warmwater biota.
These waters will support fish populations of recreational importance or
populations of threatened species.
These are waters where the potential variety of life fons is presently liiited
fay degraded water quality (natural or irretrievable human-induced conditions) or
habitat conditions. These waters will support fish populations consisting of
nonsensitive forage species.
These are surface waters which serve as a potable water supply. These waters
iust be treated (e.g. coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, chlorination)
before the water is suitable for huian consumption. After treatment, these
waters are suitable for human domestic drinking water, food processing, and
similar uses.
These are waters used for general agricultural purposes (e.g. irrigation and
livestock watering) without treatment.
These are waters where the natural background water quality limits its use for
agricultural purposes.
These waters are potentially suitable for commercial or industrial use as
cooling or processing (nonfood) water. Hater quality criteria necessary to
protect this use will vary depending on the type of industrial process involved.
Where actual uses are identified, site specific criteria will be developed to
protect the use when necessary.
This use applies to all surface waters of the state. To be aesthetically
acceptable, waters shall be free from human induced pollution which causes: 1)
noxious odor; 2) floating, suspended, colloidal, or settleable materials that
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produce objectionable fills, colors, turbidity, or deposits; and 3) the
occurence of undesirable nuisance aquatic life (e.g., algal bloots). Surface
Ťaters shall be free of radionuclides or toxic substances in concentrations or
coibinations which nay produce undesirable physiological responses in huians.
Surface Maters shall also be free of junk.
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Physical
pH
Upper Value
Lower Value
Dissolved Oxygen
Lower Value
Teeperature
Upper Value
Temperature Change
Upper Value
Nutrients
Aiaonia
Upper Value
Toxic Hetals
Pesticides
2,4 D
Upper Value
2,4,5-TP (Silvex!
Upper Value
Endrin
Upper Value
Lindane
Upper Value
Hethoxychlor
Upper Value
Toxaphene
Upper Value
Organics
Bacteria
Fecal Colifon
Upper Value
All 'Priiary Contact Secondary Conta.. Cofdwater Habit.
Classes , . Class A Class B Class A
9.0
6.5
' .
7.0 ig/L
Narr.
' 5 F
0.02 ig/L
0.1 ig/L
0.01 §g/L
0.0002 ig/L
0.004 ig/L
0.1 ig/L
0.005 tg/L
Narr.
Narr.
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ColdHater Habit., tfanttater Habit.. Harinater Habit.. Hater Supply
Class 8 Class A Class B
Physical " .
Dissolved Oxygen
Loner Value 6.0 eg/L 5.0 tg/L 5.0 ig/L
Teiperature
Upper Value Narr. Narr. Narr.
Teaperature Change
Upper Value 5 F 5 F 5 F
Hutrients
Aiionia
Upper Value . 0.02 ig/L 0.06 ig/L 0.10 ig/L
Nitrate
Upper Value 10 ig/L
Toxic Metals
Arsenic
Upper Value 0.05 ig/L
Cadiiui
Upper Value 0.01 §g/L
Chroiiui - Total
Upper Value 0.05 ig/L
Mercury
Upper Value . ^^^ ^^
Bariui
Upper Value 1.0 ig/L
Seleniui
Upper Value 0.01 ig/L
Silver
Upper Value 0.05 ig/L
Pesticides ,
Organics
Bacteria
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Physical
NEBRASKA
Agricultural Agricultural Industrial Aesthetics and
Class A Class 6
Nutrients
Nitrate
Upper Value 10 ig/L
Toxic Metals
Pesticides
Organics
Bacteria
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