&EPA.
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
Regulations and Standards
Washington, DC 20460
EPA 440/5-88-071
September 1988
Water
State Water Quality
Standards Summary:
Oklahoma
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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: PB89-142038 . •
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OKLAHOMA
Responsible Agency: State Contact
Oklahoia Hater Resources Board
NE 10th and Stonewall - 12th Floor
Oklahoia City 73105 •
405-271-2541
Standards Available From: State Contact:
Dave Dillon Chief, Hater Quality Div. v '
Oklahoia Mater Resources Board
P.O. Box 53585 ,
Oklahoia City 73152
405-271-2541 Fee: no Mailing List: yes
State Narrative Language For: Antidegradation
Oklahoia's waters constitute a valuable State resource and shall be protected, laintained and iiproved for the
benefit of all citizens. The intent of the Anti-degradation Policy is to protect all waters of the State froi
degradation of water quality, Existing beneficial uses shall be iaintained and protected. No water quality •
degradation which would interfere with the attainment or laintenance of designated beneficial uses is allowed.
It is recognized that certain waters of the State possess an existing water quality which exceeds those levels
necessary to support propagation of fish, shellfish, wildlife, and recreation in and on the water* These
high quality waters shall be laintained and protected.
No degradation shall be allowed in waters which constitute an outstanding resource or in waters of exceptional
recreational or ecological significance. These include water bodies located in National and State Parks,
forests, wilderness areas, wildlife lanageient areas, wildlife refuges, and streams designated as "critical
habitat" under the Federal Endangered Species Act. These also include streais designated Scebic River in
Appendix A,
As the quality of Oklahoea waters improve, no degradation of such improved waters shall be allowed. When the
noving yearly lean standard for a specific paraieter iiproves to the point where the goals listed in Appendix
C becoee attainable, degradation will be prohibited by incorporating the goal as a standard.
In cases where'potential water quality i»pair§ent associated with a thenal discharge is involved, the anti-
degradation policy and inpleientation lethod shall be consistent with section 316 of Public Law 92-500 as
atended by PL 92-217.
State Narrative Language For: Toxics
The surface waters of the State which are designated as public and private water supplies shall be iaintained
so that they will not'be toxic, carcinogenic, tutagenic, or teratogenic to huians.
For toxics not specified, or where data is not available in Table 1 (Segient Specific Criteria) of the
Oklahoma Hater Buality Standards, concentrations for nonpersistent toxic substances listed in Appendix C
(Qklahoea Hater Quality Standards) shall not exceed 0.1 of the 96-hour LC50 for sensitive indigenous
species. Concentrations of persistent toxicants listed in Appendix C shall not exceed 0.05 of the 96-hour
LC50 for sensitive indigenous species. Concentrations of bioaccuiulative toxicants listed in Appendix C shall
not exceed 0.01 of the 96-hour LC50 for sensitive indigenous species.
The surface waters of the State outside the lixing zone but within the zone of passage shall be iaintained so
that they will not be toxic to fishes and other terrestrial and aquatic life. Toxic substances in surface
waters of the State shall not be present in quantities which allow significant bioacc'uiulation and/or
bioiagnification in the food chain. If substances exhibit synergistic effects when coibined, toxicity tests
described in this section lay be used to detect the increased toxicity.
State Narrative Language For: Free From
To be aesthetically enjoyable, the surface waters of the State lust be free frot floating laterials and
suspended substances that produce objectionable color and turbidity. The water iust also be free froi noxious
odors and tastes, frot laterials that settle to fon objectionable deposits, and discharges that produce
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OKLAHOMA
undesirable or nuisance aquatic life.
Surface Maters of the State shall be virtually free froi all coloring materials which produce an aesthetically
unpleasant appearance.
The surface Maters of the State shall be laintained so as to be essentially free of floating debris, bottoi
deposits, scui, foai and other laterials, including suspended substances of a persistent nature, froi other
than natural sources.
Taste and odor producing substances froi other than natural origin shall be litited to concentrations that
Mill not interfere Kith the production of a potable Mater supply by modern treatment lethods or produce
abnormal flavoi. olors, tastes and odors in fish flesh or other edible wildlife, or result in offensive
odors in the vicinity of the Mater, or other-Rise interfere Mith beneficial uses.
State Narrative Language For: Low Flow
Huierical standards apply at all tiies downstream froi the lixing zone and within the zone of passage for all
Maters of the State except on two instances:
1. Nhen a discharge into a priiary wan water fishery or a secondary warm Mater fishery coiplies with and
•eets the discharge permit limitations but the flow immediately upstream froi the discharge is less than
one (1) cubic foot per second (cfs) or when the flow falls below the 7-day, 2-year, low-flow, whichever is
larger.
2. Nhen the Ion-flow is unknown or less than the larger of the 7-day, 2-year, low-flow or 1 cfs, a dilution
flow of the larger of 1 cfs or the 7-day, 2-year, low-flow will be,assumed for permitting and enforcement
activities except for seasonal criteria which apply at other than suner conditions. If tore than one
narrative or nuierical criterion is assigned to a streai, the lost stringent shall be laintained.
State Narrative Language For: Mixing Zones
When a liquid of different quality than the receiving water is discharged into an aquatic systei, a mixing
zone is formed. The concept of a mixing zone is recognized as a necessary element in Oklahoma's Hater
Quality Standards.
In streams, the mixing zone extends downstream a distance equivalent to thirteen (13) times the width of the
Mater at the point of effluent discharge. The concentration of toxic substances in a mixing zone shall not
exceed the 96-hour LC50 for sensitive indigenous species, nixing zones in lakes shall be designated on a
case-by-case basis.
It is recognized that the Mater quality in a portion of the mixing zone nay be unsuitable for certain benefic-
ial uses. Where overlapping mixing zones occur because of multiple outfalls, the total length of the mixing
zone will extend thirteen (13) streai widths downstream froi the downstream discharge.
All discharges shall be regulated to insure that a zone of passage shall be maintained within the stream at
the outfall and throughout the mixing zone that shall be no less than seventy-five percent (75X) of the cross-
sectional area or flow voluee, whichever is more beneficial to the free-SMimming and drifting organisms.
Mater quality standards shall be maintained throughout the zone of passage. Zones of passage in lakes shall
be designated on a case-by-case basis.
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OKLAHOMA
Classifications:
Public and Private The quality of the surface waters of the State which are designated as public
Water Supplies and private water supplies shall be protected, maintained, and improved, when
feasible, so that they can be used as sources of public and private raw water
supplies.
Emergency Public and
Private Mater
Supplies
Fish and Wildlife
Propagation
Agriculture
(Livestock and
Irrigation)
Hydro-Electric
Power Beneration
During emergencies, those waters designated etergency Public and Private Hater
Supplies uy be put to use. Each eiergency will be handled on a case-by-case
basis, and be thoroughly ev& . ted by the appropriate State agencies and/or
local health authorities. ..
Unpolluted waters support tore diverse aquatic communities while only tolerant
species can survive in comparatively polluted waters. In addition, waters which
have diverse habitats will contain tore species than waters with limited habitat
variation. The impact of a given chemical or physical constituent on a
biological community is not mutually exclusive of other constituents since
synergistic interactions are common. Aside from the aesthetic-qualities of fish
and wildlife, it should be realized that the health of these communities of
organisms can act as an index which reflects overall environmental welfare and
potential health of neighboring human populations.
Proper water quality is essential for irrigation of crops and livestock
consumption. The surface waters of the State shall be maintained so that
toxicity does not inhibit continued ingestion by livestock or irrigation of
crops. Excessive concentrations of minerals in irrigation water result in
damage to crops and produce undesirable soil conditions. Highly saline water
should be used with best management practices as outlined in 'Diagnosis and
Reclamation of Saline Soils,1 United States Deptartment of Agriculture Handbook
No. 60, (1958). '
This beneficial use is not generally dependent upon water quality.
Industrial and
Municipal Process
and Cooling Hater
Primary Body
Contact Recreation
Secondary Body
Contact Recreation
Navigation
Aesthetics
Qualilty criteria for water used for process or cooling purposes wary with the
type of industrial or municipal processes involved. This use will be protected
by application of the criteria for other beneficial uses.
Primary Body Contact Recreation involves direct body contact with the water
where a possibility of ingestion exists. In these cases, the water shall not
contain chemical, physical, or biological substances in concentrations that are
irritating to skin or sense organs or are toxic or cause illness upon ingestion
by human beings.
The water quality requirements for Secondary Body Contact Recreation are usually
not as stringent as for Primary Body Contact Recreation. Secondary body contact
recreational activities include boating, fishing, wading or other activities
where ingestion of water is not anticipated. Waters shall be maintianed to be
free froi human pathogens in numbers which may produce adverse health effects in
humans.
This beneficial use is generally more dependent on water quantity than water
quality.
To be aesthetically enjoyable, the surface waters of the State must be free from
floating materials and suspended substances that produce objectionable deposits,
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OKLAHOMA
and discharges that produce undesirable or nuisance aquatic life.
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All Public and Priv.. Emergency Publi.. Fish and Hildli..
Classes
Physical
pH
Upper Value 9.0
Lower Value 6.5
Dissolved Oxygen ..'".-.
Lower .Value Narr.
Teiperature
Upper Value Narr,
Te&perature Change
Upper Value 5 F
Secondary Upper Liiit 3 F
Turbidity
Upper Value 50 .. NTU
Nutrients
Anonia
Upper Value Narr.
Nitrates .
Upper Value 10.0 ig/L 10.0 ig/L
Nitrite
Upper Value Narr.
*
Toxic Hetals
Arsenic
Upper Value
Cadiiui
Upper Value
Chroiiui - Total
Upper Value
Copper
Upper Value
Cyanide
Upper Value
Lead
Upper Value
Hercury
Upper Value
Zinc
Upper Value
Bariui
Upper Value
Nickel
Upper Value
Seleniui
, Upper Value
Silver
Upper Value
0.10
0.020
0.050
1.000
0.200
0.100
0.002
5.000
1.00
0.010
0.050
•g/L
•g/L Narr.
ig/L 50 ug/L ,
•g/L
•g/L
•g/L
•g/L
•g/L
•g/L
Narr.
•g/L Narr.
•g/L Narr. site-spec.
Pesticides
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OKLAHOMA
Aldrin & Dieldrin
Upper Value
Chlordane
Upper Value
2,4-D
Upper Value
2,.,', TP (Silvex)
Upper Value
DDT
Upper Value
Endosulfan
Upper Value
Endrin
Upper Value
Heptachlor
Upper Value
Lindane
Upper Value
Hethoxychlor
Upper Value
Toxaphene
Upper Value
inks
Phenol
Upper Value
Phthalate Esters
Upper Value
All Public
Classes
.
0.100
0.010
0.0002
0.004
0.100
0.005
• 300.0
0.003 •
and
•g/L
•g/L
•g/L
•g/L
•g/L
•g/L
ug/L
•g/L
Public and Priv.. Emergency Publi.. Fish and Mildli.
l.QO ug/L
0.02 ug/L
10.00 ug/L
0.20 ug/L
0.20 ug/L
0.20 ug/L
O.SO ug/L
2.00 ug/L
1.00 ug/L
Diiethyl Phthalate
Upper Value 2475.0 ug/L
Diethyl Phthalate
Upper Value 4910.0 ug/L
Dibutyl Phthalate
Upper Value 36,5 ug/L
Di-2-ethylthexyl Phthalate
Upper Value 100.0 ug/L
Butylbenzyl Phthalate
Upper Value . 0.150 ig/L 200.0 ug/L
PCBs
Upper Value 0.00 0.00
Bacteria
Total Col if on
Upper Value ' Narr.
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OKLAHOMA
Physical
Chlorides
Upper Value
Sulfates
Upper Value
Total Dissolved Solids
Upper Value
Nutrients
Toxic Hetals
Pesticides
Drganics
Bacteria
Fecal colifori
Upper Value
Agriculture
Narr.
Narr.
Narr.
Hydro-Electric Industrial and Priiary Body
Narr.
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Physical
Nutrients
Toxic Hetils
Pesticides
Drganics
Bacteria
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Secondary Body Navigation
Aesthetics
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