\
 WATER QUALITY STANDARDS CRITERIA DIGEST
  A COMPILATION OF FEDERAL/STATE CRITERIA ON

-MERCURY AND HEAVY METALS-
    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
           WASHINGTON, D.C.

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                                   INTRODUCTION


     This digest was compiled in order to provide general information to the
public as well as to Federal, State, and local officials.  It contains excerpts
from the individual Federal-State water quality standards establishing mercury
and heavy metals criteria for interstate waters.  The water quality standards
program is directed by the Environmental Protection Agency, an independent
regulatory agency which has responsibility for approving State-adopted standards
for interstate waters, evaluating adherence to the standards, and overseeing
enforcement of standards compliance.

     Standards, the first nationwide strategy for water quality management,
contain four major elements:  the use (recreation, drinking water, fish and
wildlife propagation, industrial, or agricultural) to be made of the inter-
state water; criteria to protect those uses; implementation plans (for needed
industrial-municipal waste treatment improvements, among others) and enforce-
ment plans; and an antidegradation statement to protect existing high quality
waters.

     Minimum water quality criteria, or numerical specificationsof physical,
chemical, temperature, and biological levels, are stated in the National
Technical Advisory Committee report to the Secretary of the Interior, Water
Quality Criteria, dated April 1, 1968, and published by the Government
Printing Office, Washington, B.C.  Unavailability of the NTAC report before
June 30, 1967--the date set by the Water Quality Act of 1965 for formal
adoption of State standards--resulted in significant variations between the
State-adopted and the NTAC minimum criteria.  Some standards were adopted
and approved before the NTAC report became available.  Also, the Water
Quality Criteria report is subject to updating in light of new scientific
and technical information.

     Mercury, silver, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel, and
zinc are heavy metal compounds present in our waters and toxic to man in varying
degrees.  They are serious pollutants because these stable compounds have persis-
tent and toxic effects for many years following deposit.  The heavy metal compounds--
chromium, cadmium, mercury, and lead-- have no known biological function in animal
life and can act synergistically with other substances to increase toxicity.  Marine
organisms, especially shellfish, readily take up and concentrate these heavy metals,
which are thereafter ingested by man.  Once in the human system their toxic effects
are cumulative and are harmful to the degree that the dosages and resultant concen-
trations approach a lethal threshold.  The fishery industry has sustained economic
losses in recent years when unacceptable levels of mercury or other heavy metals
were discovered in fish from contaminated waters, provoking government condemnation
of the affected catches.  Fishing waters have been closed to fishermen, cutting them
off from their livelihood.                                                             J

     EPA generally recommends criteria in the NTAC report, Water Quality Criteria,
which cites the U.S.  Public Health Service Drinking Water Standards']These standards
list "desirable criteria" as the minimum detectable concentrations of the heavy
metal compounds.  In effect, this sets the limit to near zero.

     Since water quality standards experience revisions and upgrading from time to
time, following procedures set forth in the Federal Water Pollution Control Act,
individual entries in this digest may be superseded.  As these revisions are
accomplished, this digest will be updated and reissued.  Because this publication
is not intended for use other than as a general information resource, for the latest
information, and for special purposes and applications, refer to the existing,
approved water quality standards which can be obtained from the State water pollu-
tion control agencies or EPA Washington, D.C.  or regional offices.

     Individual State-adopted criteria follow.

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            Federal-State Water Quality Standards and USPHS
        Drinking Water Standards for Mercury and Heavy Metals I/
    All States have been required to adopt statements as a part of
    general standards applicable to all waters which require that
    those waters be free of substances attributable to discharges
    or wastes which are toxic or which produce undesirable physio-
    logical responses in human, fish, and other animal life and
    plants.
State
Metal
   Criteria
Values in mg/1
 Use Classification to
	Which Applied
Alabama
Alaska
All Toxic      Not to exceed 0.1 of
materials,     the 48 hr. median
including      tolerance limit for
metals         fish, aquatic life or
               shellfish, including
               shrimp and crabs •
               Narrative Statement

USPHS          0.1
Standards CCE
(carbon chloro-
form extracts)
USPHS Standards
All Toxic      Narrative Statement
materials,
including
metals
                       Shellfish Harvesting
                       Fish and Wildlife
                All Toxic
                materials,
                including
                metals
                Pesticides
                (heavy metal
                constituents)
               Narrative Statement
               0.001 of the LC50
               for the most sensi-
               tive organism on
               96 hr. exposure
                       All Classes

                       Class A Water Supply
                       Class B Water Supply
                       Recreation
                       Growth and Propagation
                       of Fish and other
                       aquatic life
                       Agriculture
                       Industry
                       Shellfish
Arizona
No Specific Criteria
T7  Heavy metals considered:  Cadmium, Chromium, Copper, Iron, Lead f
    Manganese, Silver, Zinc.

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                                                                              2.
State
Metal
   Criteria
Values in mg/1
Use Classification to
    Which Applied
Arkansas



California-
Sacramento-
San Joaquin
Delta






Colorado





Connecticut
Delaware
Florida







All Toxic
materials,
including
metals

Cadmium
Chromium
(hexavalent)
Copper
Iron
Lead
Manganese
Silver
Zinc
Cadmium
Chromium
(hexavalent )
Lead
Silver
Zinc
USPHS Standards
0.1 48 -hr TLm-/




0.01
0.05

0.01
0.3
0.05
0.05
0.01
0.1
0.01
0.05

0.05
0.05
0.05

Fish and Wildlife




Water Supply
Water Supply

Water Supply
Water Supply
Water Supply
Water Supply
Water Supply
Water Supply
Water Supply
Water Supply

Water Supply
Water Supply
Water Supply
Water Supply
No Specific Criteria
Copper
Zinc
Chromium
(hexavalent)
Chromium
(total)
Lead
Iron
0.5
1.0
0.50

1.0 in effluent
0.05 after mixing
0.05
0.30
All Waters
All Waters
All Waters

All Waters
All Waters
All Waters
All Waters
Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho



Illinois
No Specific  Criteria

No Specific  Criteria

(Water  Quality Criteria, published
 by the State of California referenced
 as a guide)
Amonia Nitrogen 1.5
   ( as N)
Arsenic  (total) 1.0
                        General Standards
2/   The TUn is the concentration of a toxic iraterial which produced death to one-
     half of the test organisms in a bioassay  test within a specified length of tune
     (e.g. 48 hours or 96 hour).

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State
St
                   Metal
                   Criteria
                Values in mg/1
Use Classification to
  "•Which Applied	
Illinois
  Cont'd)
Barium (total)  5.0
Boron (total)   1.0
Cadmium (total) 0.05
Chloride        500.
Chromium        0.05
   (total
   hexavalent)
Chromium
   (total
   trivalent)   1.0
Copper (total)  0.02
Cyanide         0.025
Fluoride        1.4
Iron (total)    1.0
Lead (total)    0.1
Manganese       1.0
   (total)
Mercury         0.0005
Nickel (total)  1.0
Phenols         0.1
Selenium        1.0
   (total)
Silver (total)  0.0005
Sulfate         500.
Total Dissolved
   Solids       1000.
Zinc            1.0

Amonia Nitrogen 0.02
Chloride        12.0
Sulfate         24.0
Phosphorus
   (as P)       0.007

Arsenic (total) 0.01
Barium (total)  1.0
Cadmium (total) 0.01
Chlorides       250.
Carbon          0.2
   Chloroform
   Extract  (CCE)
Cyanide         0.01
Iron (total)    0.3
Lead (total)    0.05
Manganese
   (total)      0.05
Methylene Blue  0.5
   Active Sub-
   stance (MBAS)
                                                              General Standards
                                                                      ii

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                                                                      II

                                                                      II



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                                                                      II

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                                                              Lake Michigan
                                                                      M
                                                              Public § Food Processing WS
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  State
 Metal
   Criteria
Values in mg/1
 Use Classification to
    Which Applied	
 Nitrates plus   10.0
 Nitrites as N
 Oil  (Hexane-    0.1
   solubles or
   equivalent)
 Phenols       ,  0.001
 Selenium (total)0.01
 Sulfates        250.
                                                        Public £ Food Processing
 Indiana
Iowa
Cadmium
Chromium
 (hexavalent)
Lead
Silver

All Toxic
materials,
including
metals

Cadmium
                Chromium
                  (hexavalent)
                Lead            0.05

                Lead            0.10
                Chromium       1.00
                  (trivalent)
                Copper          0.02
                Zinc            1.0
                                0.01
                                0.05

                                0.05
                                0.05

                                0.1 96-hr TLm
0.01

0.05
                        Water Supply
                        Water Supply

                        Water Supply
                        Water Supply

                        Aquatic Life
Water Supply & Fish
 and Wildlife
Water Supply & Fish
 and Wildlife
Water Supply & Fish
 and Wildlife
Fish and Wildlife
Fish and Wildlife

Fish and Wildlife
Fish and Wildlife
Kansas
                USPHS Standards
                                       Water Supply

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State
Metal
   Criteria
Values in mg/1
Use Classification to
   Which  Applied
Kentucky








Louisiana



Maine
Maryland
Mas sachuse 1 1 s
Michigan

Minnesota
















Mississippi




CadAium
Chromium
(hexavalent)
Lead
Silver
All Toxic
materials,
including
metals
All Toxic
materials,
including
metals
0.01
0.05

0.05
0.05
0.1 48-hr. TLm



0.1 48-hr. TLm



Water Supply
Water Supply

Water Supply
Water Supply
Fish and Wildlife



All Classifications



No Specific Criteria
No Specific Criteria
No Specific Criteria
Chromium
(hexavalent )
Copper
Iron
Manganese
Zinc
Cadmium
Chromium
(hexavalent)
Lead
Silver
Chromium

Copper

Chromium

Copper

Cadmium
Chromium
(hexavalent )
Lead
Silver
0.05

1.0
0.3
0.05
5
0.01
0.05

0.05
0.05
trace

trace

1.0

0.2

0.01
0.05

0.05
0.05
Water Supply

Water Supply
Water Supply
Water Supply
Water Supply
Water Supply
Water Supply

Water Supply
Water Supply
Class A Fisheries
& Recreation
Class A Fisheries
& Recreation
Class 8 Fisheries
&. Recreation
Class B Fisheries
&. Recreation
Water Supply
Water Supply

Water Supply
Water Supply

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State
Metal
   Criteria      Use Classification to
Values in mq/1	Which Applied
Mississippi
 (Cont'd)
Missouri

Montana
Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire
All Toxic
materials,
including
metals
0.1 48-hr. TLm   Fish &. Wildlife
No Specific Criteria
All Toxic
materials,
including
metals
0.00 Above
Background
Levels
Water Supply Class A
Closed
                    USPHS Standards
                    All Toxic      Induced vari-    Water Supply Class A
                    materials      ation limited    Open
                                   to a 10% increase
                                   of concentration
                    USPHS Standards
                                Water Supply Class B
                    All Toxic
                    materials,
                    including
                    metals
               Not to Exceed
               0.1 96-hr. TLm
               for residual
               materials nor 0.01
               of the 96-hr. TLm
               for pesticides &
               organic materials
               with a residual
               life exceeding
               30 days
                 Fish and Wildlife
                 Classes D-l, D-2, D-3
                                   Narrative
                                   Statement
                                   Narrative
All Toxic
materials,
including
metals

All Toxic
materials,
including
metals
USPHS Standards

No Specific Criteria

No Specific Criteria
                 Agricultural Water Supply
                 Class E
                 Industrial Water Supply
                 (other than food).
                 All Uses

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State
Metal
   Criteria
Values in mg/1
                                                    Use Classification to
                                                   	Which Applied
New Jersey

New Mexico
No Specific Criteria
All Toxic
materials,
including
metals
Not to exceed    All Classes
10% of the 48-hr.
TLm
New York
North Carolina
No Specific Criteria
               0.0
                 Water Supply
                    All Toxic
                    materials,
                    including
                    metals
 The maximum limits for toxic and other deleterious substances in re-
ceiving waters shall not exceed the values recommended in the most recent
edition of the"Report of the National Technical Advisory Committee on
Water Quality" where stated and in cases where such values are not in-
cluded in the report bioassays will be conducted according to the stand-
ards techniques recommended therein to determine safe levels for such
substances on the basis of the discharge and characteristics of the
waters under consideration.
North Dakota
Ohio
Cadmium        0.01
Chromium       1.0
 (total)
Chromium       0.05
 (trivalent or
  hexavalent)
Copper         0.1
Lead           0.05

USPHS Standards

Cadmium        0.01
Chromium       0.05
 (hexavalent)
Lead           0.05
Silver         0.05
Iron (certain  1.5
Rivers on Ohio/
Pa. border only)
                 All uses of the Red
                 River of the North,
                 the Boise De Sioux, &
                 parts of the Sheyenne
                 &. Pembino Rivers.
                 Water Supply

                 Water Supply
                 Water Supply

                 Water Supply
                 Water Supply
                 Water Supply
                    All Toxic
                    materials,
                    including
                    metals
               0.1 48-hr. TLm   Aquatic Life & Recreation

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State               Metal             Criteria      Use Classification to
	Values in mg/1	Which Applied	

Oklahoma            All Toxic      0.1 48-hr. TLm   Water Supply
                    materials,
                    including
                    metals

Oregon
     These criteria apply only to the Multnomah channel and the Main
     Stem Willamette River, the Main Stem of the Columbia River from
     the eastern Oregon-Washington border westward to the Pacific
     Ocean, the Main Stem of the Grande Ronde River, the Main Stem of
     the Walla Walla River, and the Main Stem of the Snake River.
     The remaining interstate streams and estuaries are protected by
     a narrative statement.

                    Cadmium        0.01             All Uses
                    Chromium       0.05             All Uses
                    Copper         0.005            All Uses
                    Iron           0.1              All Uses
                    Lead           0.05             All Uses
                    Manganese      0.05             All Uses
                    Zinc           0.1              All Uses
                    Heavy Metals   0.5              All Uses
                    (Totals including
                     copper, lead, zinc,
                     and others of non-
                     specific designation)

Pennsylvania
            These criteria are applicable only to specific
            reaches of interstate waters as designated in Section 6 of
            the Pennsylvania Water Quality Standards.

                    Manganese      1.0              All Uses
                    Iron (total)   1.5              All Uses
                    Iron dissolved 0.3              All Uses

Rhode Island        No Specific Criteria

South Carolina      All Toxic      0.0              Water Supply
                    materials,
                    including
                    metals

South Dakota        USPHS Standards                 Water Supply
                    Iron           0.2              Fish and Wildlife
Tennessee           No Specific Criteria

Texas               No Specific Criteria

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