5101
PHO
United States
'Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
Regulations and Standards
Washington, DC 20460
September 1980
Water
<&EPA Phosphorus
810R80101
Water Quality Standards
Criteria Summaries
A Compilation
of State/Federal Criteria
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PHOSPHORUS
Water Quality Standards
Criteria Summaries
A Compilation of State/Federal Criteria
September 1980
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water Regulations and Standards
Washington, D. C. 20460
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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NATIONAL SUMMARY
OF
STATE WATER QUALITY STANDARDS
PHOSPHORUS
SEPTEMBER, 1980
PREPARED FOR
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
CRITERIA AND STANDARDS DIVISION
401 M STREET, S. W.
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20460
PREPARED BY
NALESNIK ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED
505 ELEVENTH STREET, S. E.
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20003
Contract Number 68-01-6058
Project Number WA-80-A055
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INTRODUCTION
This digest is compiled 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 pollutant specific criteria for
interstate surface waters. The water quality standards program is implemented by
the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency where responsibility for providing
water quality recommendations, approving State-adopted standards for interstate
waters, evaluating adherence to the standards, and overseeing enforcement of
standards compliance, has been mandated by Congress.
Standards, a nationwide strategy for surface water quality management, contain
three major elements: the use (recreation, drinking water, fish and wildlife
propagation, industrial, or agricultural) to be made of the navigable water; criteria
to protect these uses; and an antidegradation statement to protect existing high
quality waters, from degradation by the addition of pollutants.
Water quality criteria (numerical or narrative specifications) for physical,
chemical, temperature, and biological constituents are stated in the July 1976 U. S.
Environmental Protection Agency publication Quality Criteria for Water (QCW),
available from the Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C. The 1976 QCW,
commonly referred to as the "Red Book," is the most current compilation of
scientific information used by the Agency as a basis for assessing water quality.
This publication is subject to periodic updating and revisions in light of new
scientific and technical information.
Criteria for phosphorus in State water quality standards are the subject of this
digest. Phosphorus criteria for water are established to provide a threshold level
which when exceeded would most likely result in aquatic life toxicity, due to
elemental phosphorus, and excessive aquatic plant growth, caused by phosphate
phosphorus which is an essential plant nutrient. Phosphorus and phosphates usually
enter a waterbody from land runoff, human and animal excretia, decaying
vegetation, and industrial processes and detergents. Once combined with other
nutrients in a waterbody, their removal becomes tedious and expensive. The i976
Quality Criteria for Water recommends a phosphorus criterion of:
0.10 ug/1 yellow (elemental) phosphorus for marine and estuarine
waters.
There is no freshwater criterion.
Since water quality standards experience revisions and upgrading from time to
time, following procedures set forth in the Clean Water Act, individual entries in
this digest may be superseded. As these revisions are accomplished and allowing
for the States to revise their standards accordingly, this digest will be updated and
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reissued. Because this publication is not intended for use other than as a general
information resource, to obtain the latest information and for special purposes and
applications, the reader needs to refer to the current approved water quality
standards. These can be obtained from the State water pollution control agencies
or the EPA or Regional Offices.
Individual State-adopted criteria follow:
ii
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REFERENCES
A
California Water Quality Standards by River Basins, c.a. 1975
For more detailed information on selected basins, sub-basins
and stretches of streams and coastal areas refer to California
State Water Quality Standards.
B Delaware Water Quality Standards, March 25, 1979
Q
Idaho Water Quality Standards, c.a. September, 1979
Missouri Water Quality Standards, c.a. February, 1978
jr
American Samoa Water Quality Standards,
Revised July, 1973
F Territory of Guam Water Quality Standards, Sept. 1975
pi
Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands Water Quality
Standards, October 21, 1973
Virgin Islands Water Quality Standards, Aug. 1973
ENVIRONMENT REPORTER, The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc.
Washington, D. C. 20037
1 Pages 701:0501-0509, February 16, 1979
2 Pages 706:1004-1008, July 20, 1979
3 Pages 711:0542-0544, August 5, 1977
4 Pages 716:0603, March 26, 1976
5 Pages 726:1005, 1011-1013, March 7, 1980
Basic Water Quality Standards adopted May 22, 1979,
have not yet been submitted to EPA for formal approval.
6 Pages 731:1002-1009, September 8, 1978
7 Pages 746:1008-1014, October 19, 1979
8 Pages 751:0504-0505, January 25, 1980
9 Pages 765:0512-0515, January 30, 1976
10 Page 761:0503-0504, 1973
m
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11 Page 766:0504-0509, October 5, 1979
12 Pages 771:0502-0504, September 29, 1978
13 Pages 776:0504-0506, April 10, 1979
14 Pages 781:0501-0502, May 18, 1979
15 Pages 786:0501-0502, August 29, 1975
16 Page 791:0583, May 26, 1978
17 Pages 796:0103-0108, February 16, 1979
I Q
Pages 801:1001-1002, Sept. 29, 1978
1 q
Page 806:1003, March 30, 1979
90
Page 811:1043, 1974
21 Pages 816:0602-0607, 0642-0648, 1974
99
Pages 821:0502-0505, June 30, 1978
OQ
Pages 831:0501-0510, February 21, 1975
94
Page 836:0502, June 30, 1978
OK
Pages 841:0507-0537, December 7, 1979
26 Pages 846:0501-0508, November 17, 1978
97
Pages 851:1001-1023, December 15, 1978
98
Pages 856:1001-1002, July 18, 1978
9Q
Pages 861:1002-1007, August 11, 1979
Of)
Pages 866:1004-1009, December 28, 1979
31 Pages 871:0501-0506, November 25, 1977
QO
Pages 876:1001-1043, May 26, 1978
QQ
Pages 881:1001-1007, September 21, 1979
•34
Pages 886:0513-0524, August 29, 1975
•3K
Pages 891:1001-1129, November 16, 1979
IV
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36 Pages 901:0501-0505, November 3, 1978
37 Pages 906:0501-0506, October 13, 1978
38 Pages 911:0501-0507, June 22, 1979
39 Pages 916:0541-0544, April 14, 1978
40 Pages 921:1001-1003, August 13, 1976
41 Pages 926:0541-0563, January 26, 1979
42 Pages 931:0501-0508, May 26, 1978
43 Pages 936:1001-1003, June 27, 1975
44 Pages 941:1001-1005, May 26, 1978
45 Pages 946:0501-0520, July 14, 1978
46 Pages 951:1002-1003, April 28, 1978
47
Pages 956:1001-1007, January 11, 1980
48 Page 741:1002, November 23, 1979
49 Pages 896:0301-0310, March 31, 1978
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PHOSPHORUS
State
Alabama
o
Alaska
1
Criteria Value in mg/1
Not specified
Not specified
Designated Stream Use
All
All
Arizona1
The mean annual total phosphate concen-
trations of the following waters shall not
exceed the values given below nor shall
the total phosphate or total nitrate con-
centrations of more than 10 percent of
the samples in any year exceed the 90
percent values given below. Unless other-
wise specified, indicated values also apply
to tributaries to the named waters.
Total phosphates as PO.mg/1
0.04 Mean annual
0.06 90 pet-value
Colorado River from Utah
border to Willow Beach
(main stem)
0.06 Mean annual
0.10 90 pet-value
0.08 Mean annual
0.12 90 pet-value
0.10 Mean annual
0.15 90 pet-value
0.50 Mean annual
0.80 90 pet-value
0.30 Mean annual
0.50 90 pet-value
Colorado River from
Willow Beach to Parker
Dam (main stem)
Colorado River from
Parker Dam to Imperial
Dam (main stem)
Colorado River from
Imperial Dam to Morelos
Dam (main stem)
Gila River from New
Mexico border to San
Carlos Reservoir (exclud-
ing San Carlos Reservoir)
Gila River from San Carlos
Reservoir to Ashurst
Hayden Dam (including San
Carlos Reservoir)
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State
Arizona
(con't)
Criteria Value
0.30 Annual mean
0.50 90 pet-value
0.20 Annual mean
0.30 90 pet-value
0.20 Mean annual
0.30 90 pet-value
0.50 Mean annual
0.80 90 pet-value
0.30 Mean annual
0.50 90 pet-value
Designated Stream Use
San Pedro River
Verde River (except
Granite Creek)
Salt River above Roosevelt
Lake
Santa Cruz River from
international boundary
near Nogales to Sahuarita
Little Colorado River
above Lyman Reservoir
Arkansas
The above standards are intended to
protect the beneficial uses of the named
waters. Because regulation of nitrates
and phosphates alone may not be adequate
to protect waters from eutrophication, no
substance shall be added to any surface
water which produces aquatic growth to
the extent that such growths create a
public nuisance or interferrence with
beneficial uses of the water defined and
designated in Reg. 6-2-65.
Federally promulgated in June, 1976.
The naturally occurring nitrogen/phos-
phorus ratio shall not be significantly
altered due to municipal, industrial, agri-
cultural or other waste discharges, nor
shall total phosphorus exceed 100 ug/1 in
streams or 50 ugA in lakes and reservoirs
due to any such discharges.
All
California
Concentration not to be exceeded:
(Total Phosphorus)
0.2 mg/1
0.1 mg/1
0.05 mg/1
Marine habitat, warm
freshwater habitat (Basin
3)
Cold freshwater habitat,
fish spawning (Basin 3)
Water contact recreation
or non-contact water
recreation (Basin 3)
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State
Colorado"
Criteria Value
Not specified
Designated Stream Use
All
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida7
B
None other than of natural origin
There shall be no point source discharge
into any natural lake or pond or tributary
surface waters which will raise the phos-
phorus concentration, of the receiving
surface waters, including phosphorus con-
tained in suspended matter to an amount
in excess of 0.03 mg/1.
Not specified
O.OOOl(Elemental)
Drinking water supply
Recreation, agricultural,
industrial, fish, and wild-
life habitat
All
Shellfish harvesting
recreation, fish and
wildlife
o
Georgia
o
Hawaii
10
Idaho
Illinois11
Not specified
Total phosphorus, not greater than 0.020
mg/1
Not greater than 0.025 mg/1
Not greater than 0.030 mg/1
Not greater than 0.20 mg/1
except not greater than 0.05 mg/1 for
waters entering lakes or reservoirs.
Not specified
After December 31, 1983, phosphorus as P
shall not exceed 0.05 mg/1 in any reser-
voir or lake with a surface area of 20
acres or more, or in any stream at the
point where it enters any such reservoir
or lake. For the purposes of this Rule
(203C) the term 'reservoir or lake' shall
not include low level pools constructed in
free flowing streams or any body of water
which is an integral part of an operation
All
Class AA
Class A
Class B
Classes 1 and 2
All
All, except Lake Michigan
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State
Criteria Value
Designated Stream Use
Illinois
(con't)
which includes the application of sludge
on land. Point source discharges which
comply with Rule 407 of this Chapter
shall be in compliance with this Rule
203(c) for purposes of the application of
Rule 402 of this chapter.
0.007
All Lake Michigan
Indiana
12
0.03 mg/1 monthly average
0.04 mg/1 daily average
0.1 mg/1 Maximum value, except in
waters flowing westward into Illinois.
Inner Harbor
Gary Harbor, Burns
Harbor, and Lake Michigan
Grand Calument River and
Indiana Harbor Ship Canal
Iowa
13
Kansas
14
Kentucky
15
0.04 mg/1 (total phosphorus)
Free from substances attributable to
municipal, industrial, agricultural or other
sources in concentrations or combinations
which will cause or contribute to the
growth of aquatic plants or algae in such
degree as to create a nuisance, be
unsightly or deleterious, or be harmful to
salmonid fishes or the natural biota.
Not specified
Not specified
Not specified
Wolf Lake and Wolf Lake
Channel
Natural spawning, rearing
or imprinting areas, and
migration route for
Salmonid Fishes.
All
All
All
Louisiana
16
Not specified
Nutrients: The naturally occurring nit-
rogen-phosphorous ratio shall be main-
tained. On completion of detailed studies
on the naturally occurring levels of the
varios macro and micro nutrients the
state will establish numerical limits on
nutrients where possible.
All
All
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State
17
Maine
Maryland
18
Criteria Value
Total phosphorus shall not exceed 15 parts
per billion
The total phosphorus concentration shall
not exceed 50 parts per billion at
measured in samples taken at or near the
surface of the water.
The state recognizes that certain waters
of the State are eutrophic or are
approaching eutrophic conditions. All dis-
charges to waters which are eutrophic or
potentially eutrophic, when so identified
by the State, shall be treated as necessary
to reduce eutrophic effects. The State
shall require that wastewaters, containing
nutrients which cause or may cause eutro-
phication be given advanced waste treat-
ment prior to discharge, or be disposed of
by spray irrigation on land, or by other
practicable procedures which will avoid
direct discharge to surface waters.
Designated Stream Use
GP-A
GP-B
Massachusetts
19
The discharge of nutrients, primarily
phosphorus or nitrogen, to waters of the
Commonwealth will be limited or prohi-
bited by the Division as necessary to
prevent excessive eutrophication of such
waters. There shall be no new or
increased discharges of nutrients into
lakes and ponds, or tributaries thereto.
Existing discharges containing nutrients
which encourage eutrophication or growth
of weeds or algae shall be treated. Acti-
vities which may result in non-point dis-
charges of nutrients shall be conducted in
accordance with the best management
practices reasonably determined by the
Division to be necessary to preclude or
minimize such discharges of nutrients.
All
20
Michigan
1.0 (monthly average effluent concen-
tration goal)
All
Minnesota
21
The standards provide for an effluent
limit of 1.0 mg/1 where the effluent
affects a lake or reservoir.
All
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State
22
Mississippi
Missouri
•D
Montana
23
Nebraska
Nevada
24
Criteria Value
Not specified
Not specified
Not specified
Not specified
Total phosphate shall not exceed 0.15 in
any stream at the point where it enters
any reservoir or lake, nor 0.075 in any
reservoir or lake, nor 0.30 in streams and
other flowing waters.
Designated Stream Use
All
All
All
All
Drinking water supply with
treatment by disinfection
only suitable for aquatic
life habitat, wildlife propa-
gation, agricultural use,
recreation, boating and
esthetics.
Total phosphates shall not exceed 0.3
Total phosphates shall not exceed 1.0
See Nevada State Water Quality Criteria
Compilation 1979, for specific stretches
of stream.
Drinking water supply with
treatment by disinfection
and filtration only, for
agricultural use, aquatic
life and wildlife propa-
gation, recreation, indus-
trial supply and esthetics
Domestic water supply
following complete treat-
ment, agricultural use,
aquatic life, wildlife pro-
pagation, recreation, and
industrial supply
no
New Hampshire None, except as naturally occurs
None in such concentrations (generally
less than 0.015 ppm) that would impair
any usages assigned to this class unless
naturally occurring
Water supply (after disin-
fection)
All, except water supply
(after disinfection)
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State
New Hampshire
(con't)
Criteria Value
There shall be no phosphorus in such con-
centrations that would impair any usages
assigned to the specific class involved.
Where treatment to remove phosphorus is
required under this regulation such treat-
ment shall remove phosphorus to the
maximum extent technically feasible.
In all lakes and ponds: There shall be no
new point discharge of wastewater
containing phosphorus. In addition there
shall be no new discharge of wastewater
containing phosphorus to tributaries of
lakes or ponds that would encourage
eutrophication or growth of weeds or
algae in such lakes and ponds.
Any point discharge of wastewater
existing as of the date of adoption of
these rules and regulations and containing
phosphates in concentrations which
encourage eutrophication or growth of
weeds or algae, shall be treated to
remove such phos phates to the maximum
extent technically feasible.
The preceding shall not apply to any con-
dition due to natural causes.
Designated Stream Use
All
All
All
New Jersey
27
Phosphorus as total P shall not exceed 50
ug/1 in any reservoir, lake, pond or in a
tributary at the point where it enters such
bodies of water, unless it can be
demonstrated that total P is not a
limiting factor considering the morpho-
logical, physical, chemical and other
characteristics of the water body.
Phosphorus at total P shall not exceed 50
mg/1 in any reservoir, lake, pond or in a
tributary at the point where it enters such
bodies of water, unless it can be
demonstrated that total P is not a
limiting factor considering the morpho-
logical, physical, chemical and other
characteristics of the water body.
0.7
Fresh, non-tidal designated
for public water supply,
biota, recreation, indus-
trial, agricultural, and any
other reasonable use.
Fresh, non-tidal designated
for natural biota, recrea-
tion, industrial, agricul-
tural, and any other
reasonable use.
All uses in central Pine
Barrens
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State
28
New Mexico
Criteria Value
Not specified
Designated Stream Use
All
New York
29
Concentration should be limited to the
extent necessary to prevent nuisance
growths of algae, weeds and slimes that
are or may become injurious to any bene-
ficial water use.
All uses of International
boundary waters
30
North Carolina
0.0001 (Elemental)
All
North Dakota
31
0.1 - 0.2 depending upon type of drinking
water treatment process utilized
0.025 (goal)
All
All lake uses
Ohio32
Total phosphorus as P shall be limited to
the extent necessary to prevent nuisance
growths of algae, weeds, and slimes that
result in a violation of the water quality
standards set forth in Chapter 3745-1 of
the Ohio Administrative Code. In areas
where such nuisance growths exist, phos-
phorus discharges from point sources
determined significant by the Ohio
Environmental Protection Agency shall
not exceed a daily average of one mill-
gram per liter as total P, or such stricter
requirements as may be imposed by Ohio
EPA in accordance with the International
Joint Commission (US-Canada agreement)
Warmwater habitat, excep-
tional warm water habitat,
seasonal warm water habi-
tat, limited warm water
habitat (with specific
exceptions), cold water
habitat, and Lake Erie.
Oklahoma
33
Not specified
The total phosphorus concentration and
the nitrogen/phosphorous concentration
ratio shall be limited to present eutrophi-
cation problems.
VJhere historical data on nitrogen and
phosphorus does not exist, sample points
upstream of the point of discharge shall
be used to calculate the natural nitro-
gen/phosphorus concentration ratio. The
application of this standard shall be
determined on a case by case basis.
Compliance with this standard shall be
determined at the end of the mixing zone.
All
All
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State
34
"Oregon
35
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
36
Criteria Value
Not specified
Pt 0.03
p; o.io
P* 0.13
None in such concentration that would
impair any usages specifically assigned to
said Class. New discharges of wastes
containing phosphates will not be
permitted into or immediately upstream
of lakes or ponds. Phosphates shall be
removed from existing discharges to the
extent that such removal is or may
become technically and reasonably
feasible.
Designated Stream Use
All
See Drainage Lists A
through E of Pennsylvania
Water Quality Standards
for applicable uses and
streams
All
South Carolina37
South Dakota
39
Tennessee
Texas40
Utah41
38
Vermont
42
Not specified
Not specified
Not specified
Not specified
0.05
0.025
There shall be no discharge of wastes to
Class A waters that do not meet or
exceed the technical and other require-
ments for such waters nor shall there be
any discharge of wastes containing any
form of nutrients which would encourage -
eutrophication or growth of weeds or
algae.
All
All
All
All
Recreation, aesthetics,
aquatic life
All uses in lakes and
reservoirs
All
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State
Criteria Value
Designated Stream Use
Vermont
(con't)
There shall be no new or increased dis-
charge of wastes after May 27, 1971
containing any form of nutrients which
would encourage eutrophication or growth
of weeds and algae in any lake, pond or
reservoir. Any discharge of wastes
existing prior to May 27, 1971 containing
soluble or other nutrients which would
encourage eutrophication or growth of
weeds and algae in any lake, pond, or
reservoir shall receive the highest
practical degree of treatment currently
available to remove such nutrients.
Virginia
In impounded waters, the total phosphate
as phosphorus (P) should not exceed 50
ug/1 in any stream where it enters a lake
or reservoir nor 25/ug/l within the lake or
reservoir.
Class I, H, III, IV, V, and VI
waters
Washington
44
Not specified
All
45
West Virginia Not specified
All
46
Wisconsin
Not specified
All
Wyoming
.47
Not specified
All
American Samoa Not specified
The naturally occurring atomic ratio of
NO,-N to PO.-P in a body of water will
be maintained. Similarly, the ratio of
inorganic phosphorus (orthophosphate) to
total phosphorus (the sum of inorganic
phosphorus, dissolved organic phosphorus,
and particulate (phosphorus) will be main-
tained in the ratio and amount as it
occurs in the receiving waters naturally.
All
Recreation, aquatic life
District of
Columbia
48
Not specified
All
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State
Guam
Puerto Rico
49
Criteria Value
Total phosphorus shall not exceed
0.025 mg/1
Total phosphorus shall not exceed
0.05 mg/1
Total phosphorus shall not exceed
0.10 mg/1
0.025
Trust Territories6 0.025
The naturally occurring ratio of the con-
centrations of nitrogen to phosphorus will
be maintained in all waters.
Designated Stream Use
AA
A, 2b, I, 2b, II, C
2a-I, 2a-II
All fresh water uses and
preservation of coastal
water natural phenomena
Drinking water supply
All
Virgin Islands
H
0.050
All except preservation of
natural phenomena
»U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1980. 341-O82/108
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United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Washington DC 20460
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use $300
Postage and
Fees fjaid
Environmental
Protection
Agency
EPA 335
Third-Class
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