United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
.Office of Water
Regulations and Standards
Washington, DC 20460
EPA 440/5-88-085
September 19SJ
State Water Quality
Standards Summary:
Washington
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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: PB89-142178
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Responsible Agency: State Contact
Department of Ecology
Olyipia 98504
Standards Available Froms State Contact:
Jeroie D, Thielen, Coordinator
Surface Hater Quality Standards
Hater Quality Prograi
Department of Ecology
Qlympia 98504-8711
206-459-6000 Fee: no Nailing List: yes
State Narrative Language For: Antidegradation
The antidegradaton policy of the state of Hashington, as generally guided by chapter 90.48 RCH Kater Pollution
Control Act, and chapter 90.54 RCH, Hatar Resources Act of 1971, is stated as follows!
(a) Existing beneficial uses shall be maintained and protected and no further degradation which would inter-
fere Kith or becoie injurious to existing beneficial uses dill be allowed.
(b) No degradation will be allowed of waters lying in national parks, recreation areas, wildlife refuges,
scenic rivers, and other areas of national ecological importance.
(c) Whenever waters are of higher quality than the criteria assigned for said waters, the existing water
quality shall be protected and waste and other materials and substances shall not be allowed to enter such
waters which will reduce the existing quality thereof, except, in those instances where:
(i) It is clear that overriding considerations of the public interest will be served, and
(ii) All wastes and other material and substances proposed for discharge into the said waters shall be
provided with all known, available, and reasonable methods of treatment before discharge.
(d) Whenever the natural conditions of said waters are of a lower quality than the criteria assigned, the
natural conditions shall constitute the water quality criteria.
(e) The criteria established in MAC 173-201-045 through 173-201-085 may be modified on a short-term basis
when necessary to accoamodate essential activities, respond to emergencies, or to protect the public interest.
(f) In no case, will any degradation of water quality be allowed if this degradation interferes with or
becomes injurious to existing water uses and causes long-term and irreparable harm to the environment.
(g) No waste discharge permit will be issued which will violate established water quality criteria for the
said waters, except, as provided for under WAC 173-201-035(8)(e).
State Narrative Language For: Toxics
Toxic, radioactive, or deleterious material concentrations shall be below those of public health significance,
or which aay cause acute or chronic toxic conditions to the aquatic biota, or which may adversely affect any
water use. -
Deleterious concentrations of toxic, or other nonradioactive materials, shall be determined by the department
in consideration of the Quality Criteria for Hater, published by USEPA 1976, and as revised, as the.
authoritative source for criteria and/or other relevant information, if justified.
State Narrative Language For: Free From
Aesthetic values shall not be impaired by the presence of materials or their effects, excluding those of
natural origin, which offend the senses of sight, smell, touch, or taste.
State Narrative Language For: Mixing Zones
The total area and/or volume of a receiving water assigned to a dilution zone shall be as described in a valid
discharge permit as needed and be limited to that which will:
(a) Not cause acute mortalities of sport, food, or commercial fish and shellfish species of established
biological communities within populations or important species to a degree which damages the ecosystem.
WA-1
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(b) Not diiinish aesthetic values or other beneficial uses disproportionately.
WA-2
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Classifications
Class AA
(Extraordinary)
Class A
(Excellent)
Class B
(Bood)
Class C
(Fair)
Lake Class
(a) General Characteristic. Water quality of this class shall markedly and
uniformly exceed the requirements for all or substantially all uses.
(b) Characteristic Uses. Characteristic uses shall include, but are not
limited to, the following: (i) Water supply (dwestic, industrial,
agricultural)! (ii) Stock watering: (iii) Fish & Shellfish including:
salionid •igration, rearing, spawning, and harvesting: other fish iigration,
rearing, spanning & harvesting: Clam, oyster, & mussel rearing, spanning, and
harvesting: Crustaceans 4 other shellfish rearing, spanning, and harvesting.
(iv) Wildlife habitat: (v) Recreation (primary contact recreation, sport
fishing, boating, & aesthetic enjoyment), (vi) Commerce and navigation
(a) Beneral Characteristic. Water quality of this class shall meet or exceed
the requirements for all or substantially all uses.
(b) Characteristic Uses. Characteristic uses shall include, but are not
liiited to, the following: (i) Water supply (domestic, industrial,
agricultural): (ii) Stock watering: (iii) Fish and shellfish as described in:
Class AA: (iv) Wildlife habitat: (v) Recreation (primary contact recreation,
sport fishing, boating, and aesthetic enjoyment), (vi) Commerce and navigation.
(a) Seneral Characteristic. Water quality of this class shall meet or exceed
the requirements for most uses.
(b) Characteristic Uses. Characteristic uses shall include, but are not
limited to the following: (i) Water supply industrial and agricultural.
(ii) Stock watering, (iii) Fish and shellfish as described in Class AA.
(iv) Wildlife habitat, (v) Recreation: (secondary contact recreation, sport
fishing, boating, and aesthetic enjoyment.) (vi) Commerce and navigation.
(a) Beneral Characteristic. Water quality of this class shall meet or exceed
the requirements of selected and essential uses.
(b)- Characteristic Uses. Characteristic uses shall include, but not be limited
to, the following: (i) water supply (industrial), (ii) Fish (salmonid and
other fish migration), (iii) Recreation (secondary contact recreation, sport
fishing, boating, and aesthetic enjoyment), (iv) Commerce and navigation.
(a) Seneral Characteristic. Water quality of this class shall meet or exceed
the requireaents for all or substantially all uses.
(b) Characteristic Uses. Characteristic uses for waters of this class shall in
elude, but are not liiited to, the following: (i) Water supply (domestic,
industrial, agricultural), (ii) Stock watering, (iii) Fish and shellfish, as
described in Class AA. (iv) Wildlife habitat, (v) Recreation (primary contact
recreation, sport fishing, boating, and aesthetic enjoyment.) (vi) Commerce and
navigation.
WA-3
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All
Classes
Physical
PH
Upper Value
Lexer Value
Secondary Upper Liiit
Dissolved Oxygen
Loner Value
Teaperature
Upper Value
Secondary Upper Liiit
Teiperature Change
Upper Value
Turbidity
Upper Value
Nutrients
Toxic Metals
Pesticides
Organics
Bacteria
Fecal Colifort
Upper Value
Class AA
8.5
6.5
8.5
9.5 ig/L
Class A
8.5
6.5
8.5
8.0 ig/L
Class B
8.5
6.5
8.5
6.5 ig/L
16.0
13.0
Narr.
Narr.
C
C
18.0
16
Narr.
C
C
21.0
19.0
Narr.
Narr.
C
C
Narr.
Narr.
Narr.
WA-4
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Class C Lake Class
Physical
pH
Upper Value 9.0 Narr.
. Loner Value 6.5
Dissolved Oxygen
Upper Value ig/L Narr.
Lower Value 4.0 ig/L
Teiperature
Upper Value 24.0 C Narr.
Secondary Upper Liiit 22.0 C
Tetperature Change
Upper Value Narr.
Turbidity
Upper Value Narr. Narr.
Nutrients
Toxic Metals
Pesticides
Organics
Bacteria
Fecal Colifon
Upper Value Narr. Narr.
WA-5
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