EPA/440/5-88/010
ERA
States
mental Protection
Office of Water
Regulations and Standards
Washington, DC 20460
EPA440/&88/010
September 1988
General Provisions
AA^iter Quality Standards
Criteria Summaries:
-A,
State/Federal Criteria
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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: PB89-141428
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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.
Guidance for the development of standards by individual States is contained in
two EPA documents entitled Water Quality Standards Handbook (1983) and Quality
Criteria for Water (1986).
General provisions in State water quality standards, which are the subject of
this digest, were instituted as the fundamental basis on which water quality
management in the States was initiated. The provisions, often referred to as
"freedoms," are general and encompassing statements which provide for the
aesthetic beauty of a waterway. They are not based on scientific rationale.
The 1986 Quality Criteria for Water recommends the following aesthetic
qualities criteria:
All waters free from substances attributable to wastewater or other
discharges that:
(1) settle to form objectionable deposits;
(2) float as debris, scum, oil, or other matter to form nuisances;
(3) produce objectionable color, odor, taste, or turbidity;
(4) injure or are toxic or produce adverse physiological responses in
humans, animals, or plants; and
(5) produce undesirable or nuisance aquatic life.
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 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
standards, 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.
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REFERENCES
5 California Water Quality Standards by River Basins, ca. 1975.
9 Florida Administrative Code, Chapter 17-4, 1987 and Florida Administrative
Code, Chapter 17-3, 1988.
12 Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Rules and Regulations, Title 1,
Chapter 2, "Water Quality Standards and Wastevater Treatment
Requirements", 1980.
19 Maine Water Classification Program, Maine Revised Statutes Annotated,
Title 38, Article 4-A, State of Maine Department of Environmental
Protection, May, 1987.
31 Water Quality Standards for Interstate and Intrastate Streams in New
Mexico, State of Nev Mexico Water Quality Control Commission, 1988.
35 Ohio Water Quality Standards, Chapter 3745-1 of the Administrative Code,
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, 1985.
43 Texas Surface Water Quality Standards, Texas Water Commission, Rule
Change, 1988.
44 Utah Standards of Quality for Waters of the State, Wastevater Disposal
Regulations: Part II, State of Utah Department of Health: Division of
Environmental Health, 1988.
45 Vermont Water Quality Standards, . State of Vermont Water Resource Board,
1987.
46 Virginia Water Quality Standards, State Water Control Board, 1987.
51 Water Quality Standards for American Samoa, 1984, p. 16-17.
53 Revised Guam Water Quality Standards, Guam Environmental Protection Agency
1984, p. 7.
56 Marine and Fresh Water Quality Standard Regulations, Trust Territory,
1986, p. 4-5.
57 Water Quality Standards for Coastal Waters of the Virgin Islands, Title
12, Chapter 7, Subchapter 186, 1985, p. 263.
ENVIRONMENT REPORTER, The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. Washington, D.C.
20037
1 Page 701:1002, June 26, 1981
2 Pages 706:1004-1006, November 7, 1986
3 Page 711:1002, February 7, 1986
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4 Page 716:1004, August 30, 1985
6 Pages 726:1005-1006, March 22, 1985
7 Page 731:1002, May 14, 1982
8 Page 736:1001, March 28, 1986
9 Pages 746:1010-1011, September 5, 1986
11 Page 756:1002, September 20, 1985
13 Page 766:0505, March 28, 1986
14 Page 771:1002, August 10, 1984
15 Page 776:1005, February 13, 1987
16 Page 781:1011, March 27, 1987
17 Page 786:1008, November 29, 1985
18 Page 791:1005, January 18, 1985
20 Page 801:1002, April 19, 1985
21 Page 806:1002, June 21, 1985
22 -Page 811:1003, February 13, 1987
23 Page 816:1002, June 25, 1982
24 Page 821:1002, October 25, 1985
25 Page 826:1007, June 21, 1985
26 Page 831:1010, April 19, 1985
27 Pages 836:1003, 1006, March 27, 1987
28 Page 841:1013, February 22, 1985
29 Page 846:1007, October 5, 1984
30 Page 851:1004, April 11, 1986
32 Page 861:1007, November 29, 1985
33 Pages 866:1010-1012, August 29, 1986
34 Page 871:1002, June 7, 1985
36 Page 881:1014, September 26, 1986
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38 Page. 891:1004, August 9, 1985
39 Page 901:1001, August 9, 1985
40 Page 906:1004, January 17, 1986
41 Page 911:1003-1004, March 22, 1985
42 Pages 916:0541-0542, September 7, 1984
47 Page 941:1004, October 21, 1983
48 Page 946:1002, August 10, 1984
49 Pages 951:1001-1002, March, 13, 1987
50 Page 956:1004, July 5, 1985
52 Page 741:1002, March 28, 1986
55 Pages 896:1002-1003, December 23, 1983
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State
General Provisions
Alabama
A. State waters shall be free from substances
attributable to sewage, industrial wastes or other
wastes that will settle to form bottom deposits which
are unsightly, putrescent or interfere directly or
indirectly with any classified water use.
B. State waters shall be free from floating debris,
oil, scum, and other floating materials attributable
to sewage, industrial wastes or other wastes in
amounts sufficient to be unsightly or interfere
directly or indirectly with any classified water use.
C. State waters shall be free from substances
attributable to sewage, industrial wastes or other
wastes in concentrations or combinations which are
toxic or harmful to human, animal or aquatic life to
the extent commensurate with the designated usage of
such waters.
Alaska
The following standards apply to the drinking,
culinary and food processing water supply:
Turbidity - Shall not exceed 5 NTU above natural
conditions when the natural turbidity is 50 NTU or
less and not have more than 10% increase in turbidity
when the natural condition is more than 5.0 NTU not to
exceed a maximum increase of 25 NTU..
and inorganic
exceed Alaska
Toxic and other deleterious organic
substances - Substances shall not
Drinking Water Standards or EPA Quality Criteria for
Water as applicable to substance.
Color - Shall not exceed 75 color units where water
supply is or will be treated. Shall not exceed 5
color units where water supply is not treated.
PetroleuB Hydrocarbons, Oils and Grease - Shall not
cause a visible sheen upon the surface of the water.
Shall not exceed concentrations which individually or
in combination impart odor or taste as determined by
organoleptic tests.
Residues - Floating solids, debris, sludge, deposits,
foam, scum - shall not alone or in combination with
other substances or wastes make water unfit or unsafe
for use, cause a film, sheen, or discoloration on the
surface of the water or adjoining shoreline, cause
beaching of toxic or deleterious substances, or cause
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State
General Provisions
a sludge, solid emulsion to be deposited beneath or
upon the surface of the water vithin the water column
on the bottom or upon adjoining shorelines.
Arizona"
All surface waters shall be:
A. Free from substances attributable to domestic or
industrial waste or other controllable sources that
will settle to form sludge or bottom deposits which
result in unsightly, putrescent, or odorous conditions
in the receiving water or which adversely affect the
ecosystem.
B. Free from floating debris, oil, grease, scum, and
other floating materials attributable to domestic or
industrial waste or other controllable sources which
result in unsightly conditions in the receiving water
or produce a deposit on a shoreline or bank bordering
such waters or which adversely affect the ecosystem.
A spill or discharge of oil into surface waters of the
State in amounts sufficient to be harmful to the
public health or welfare, or in amounts sufficient to
cause a film or iridescent appearance on the surface
of the water, shall be a violation of these water
quality standards.
C. Free from materials attributable to domestic or
industrial waste or other controllable sources in
amounts sufficient to produce taste or odor in the
water or detectable off flavor in the flesh of fish,
or in amounts sufficient to change the existing color,
turbidity or other conditions in the receiving stream
or to adversely affect the ecosystem.
D. Free from toxic, corrosive, or other deleterious
substances attributable to domestic or industrial
waste or other controllable sources at levels or in
combinations sufficient to be toxic to human, animal,
plant, or aquatic life.
E. Free from substances attributable to point source
discharges or nonpoint sources in concentrations which
produce undesirable aquatic life or result in the
dominance of nuisance species.
Arkansas
A. All waters shall be free from substances
attributed to man-caused point or nonpoint source
discharges in concentrations that produce undesirable
aquatic life or result in the dominance of nuisance
species.
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State General Provisions
B. Color - True color shall not be increased in any
waters to the extent that it will interfere with
present or projected future uses of these waters.
C. Taste and Odor - Taste and odor producing
substances shall be limited in receiving waters to
concentrations that will not interfere with the
production of potable water by reasonable water
treatment processes, or impart unpalatable flavor to
food, fish or result in offensive odors arising from
the waters or otherwise interfere with the reasonable
use of the water.
D. Solids, Floating Material, and Deposits -
Receiving waters shall have no distinctly visible
solids, scum or foam of a persistent nature, nor shall
there be any formation of slime, bottom deposits or
sludge banks.
California Color - Waters shall be free of coloration that causes
nuisance or adversely affects beneficial uses.
Tastes and Odors - Vaters shall not contain taste or
odor producing substances in concentrations that
impart undesirable tastes or odors to fish flesh or
other edible products of aquatic origin, that cause
nuisance, or adversely affect beneficial uses.
Floating Material - Vaters shall not contain floating
material, including solids, liquids, foams, and scum,
in concentrations that cause nuisance or adversely
affect beneficial uses.
Suspended Material - Vaters shall not contain
suspended material in concentrations that cause
nuisance or adversely affect beneficial uses.
Settleable Material - Vaters shall not contain
substances in concentrations that result in deposition
of materials that cause nuisance or adversely affect
beneficial uses.
Oil and Grease - Vaters shall not contain oils,
greases, waxes, or other materials in concentrations
that result in a visible film or coating of the
surface of the water or on objects in the water, that
cause nuisance, or that otherwise adversely affect
beneficial uses.
4
Biostimulatory Substances - Waters shall not contain
biostimulatory substances in concentrations .that
promote aquatic growths to the extent that such _^^
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State General Provisions
growths cause nuisance or adversely affect beneficial
uses.
Sediment - The suspended sediment load and suspended
sediment discharge rate of surface waters shall not be
altered in such a manner as to cause nuisance or
adversely affect beneficial uses.
Turbidity - Turbidity shall not be increased more than
20 percent • above naturally occurring background
levels. Allowable zones of dilution within which
higher percentages can be tolerated may be defined for
specific discharges upon the issuance of discharge
permits or waiver thereof.
Toxicity - All waters shall be maintained free of
toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to,
or that produce detrimental physiological responses in
human, plant, animal, or aquatic life. Compliance
with the objective will be determined by use of
indicator organisms, analyses of species diversity,
population density, growth anomalies, bioassays of
appropriate duration or other appropriate methods as
specified by the Regional Board.
The survival of aquatic life in surface waters
subjected to a waste discharge, or other controllable
water quality factors, shall not be less than that for
the same water body in areas unaffected by the waste
discharge, or when necessary for other control water
that is consistent with the requirements for
"experimental water" as described in "Standard Methods
for the Examination of Vater and Wastewater", latest
edition. As a minimum, compliance with this objective
as stated in the previous sentence shall be evaluated
with a 96-hour bioassay.
In addition, effluent limits based upon acute
bioassays of effluents will be prescribed where
appropriate, additional numerical receiving water
objectives for specific toxicants will be established
as sufficient data becomes available, and source
control of toxic substances will be encouraged.
Colorado Except where authorized by permits, BMP's, or plans of
operation approved by the Division, state waters shall
be free from substances attributable to human-caused
point source or nonpoint source discharges in amounts,
concentrations or combinations:
A. which can settle to form bottom deposits
detrimental to the beneficial uses. Deposits are
stream bottom buildup of materials which include but
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State
General Provisions
are not limited to anaerobic sludges, mine slurry or
tailings, silt, or mud; or
B. which form floating debris, scum, or other surface
materials sufficient to harm existing beneficial uses;
or
C. which produce color, odor, or other conditions in
such .a degree as to create a nuisance or harm existing
beneficial uses or impart any undesirable taste to
significant edible aquatic species or to the water; or
D. which are harmful to the beneficial uses or toxic
to humans, animals, plants, or aquatic life; or
£. which produce a predominance of undesirable
aquatic life; or
F. which cause a film on the surface or produce a
deposit on shorelines.
Connecticut
The waters shall be free from chemical constituents in
concentrations or combinations which would be harmful
to human, animal or aquatic life for the most
sensitive and governing water use class. Criteria for
chemical constituents contained in guidelines
published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
shall be considered. In areas where.fisheries are the
governing consideration and numerical limits have not
been established, bioassays may be necessary to
establish limits on toxic substances. The
recommendations for bioassay procedures contained in
"Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and
Wastewater" and the application factors contained in
EPA water quality guidelines shall be considered.
Delaware
A. Waters shall be free from substances attributable
to wastes of industrial, municipal, agricultural or
other anthropogenic origin, such as:
(i) Floating debris, oil, grease, scum, foam, or
other materials on the water surface that create
a nuisance condition, or in any way interfere
with attainment of designated uses of the water,
(ii) Settleable solids, sediments, sludge
deposits, or suspended particles that may coat or
cover submerged surfaces and create a nuisance
condition, or in any way interfere with
attainment of designated uses of the water,
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State General Provisions
(iii) Any pollutants, including those of a
thermal, toxic, corrosive, bacteriological,
radiological, or other nature, that may interfere
with attainment of designated uses of the water,
impart undesirable odors, tastes, or colors to
the water or to aquatic life found therein,
endanger public health, or result in dominance of
nuisance species.
o
Florida 17-3.011 Findings, Declaration and Intent.
(1) Article II, Section 7 of the Florida Constitution
requires abatement of water pollution, and
conservation and protection of Florida's natural
resources and scenic beauty.
(2) Section 403.021, Florida Statutes, declares that
the public policy of the State is to conserve the
waters of the State to protect, maintain, and
improve the quality thereof for public water
supplies, for the propagation of wildlife, fish
and other aquatic life, and for domestic,
agricultural, industrial, recreational, and other
beneficial uses. It also prohibits the discharge
of wastes into Florida waters without treatment
necessary to protect those beneficial uses of the
*" waters.
\
• (3) Congress, in Section 101(1)(2) of the Federal
Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, declares
that achievement by July 1, 1983, of water quality
sufficient for the protection and propagation of
fish, shellfish, and wildlife, as well as for
recreation in and on the water, is an interim goal
to be sought wherever attainable. Congress
further states, in Section 101(a)(3), that it is
the national policy that the discharge of toxic
pollutants in toxic amounts be prohibited.
(4) The present and future most beneficial uses of all
waters of the State have been designated by the
Department by means of the classification system
set forth in this Chapter pursuant to Subsection
403.061(10), F.S. Water quality standards are
established by the Department to protect these
designated uses.
(5) Pollution which causes or contributes to new
violations of water quality standards or to
continuation of existing violations is harmful to
the waters of this State and shall not be allowed.
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State General Provisions
(6) The quality of waters which exceeds the minimum
quality necessary to support the designated use of
those waters shall be protected and enhanced.
(7) The quality of waters which is lower than that
necessary to support the designated use of those
waters shall be protected and enhanced provided,
however, the Department shall not strive to abate
natural conditions.
(8) The highest protection shall be afforded to
Outstanding Florida Waters.
(9) Because activities outside the State sometimes
cause pollution of Florida's waters, the
Department will make every reasonable effort to
have such pollution abated.
(10) Vater quality standards apply equally to and shall
be uniformly enforced in both the public and
private sector.
(11) The Department finds that excessive nutrients
(total nitrogen and total phosphorus) constitute
one of the most severe water quality problems
facing the State. It shall be the Department's
policy to limit the introduction of man-induced
nutrients into waters of the State. Particular
consideration shall 4>e given to the protection
from . further nutrient enrichment of vaters which
are presently high in nutrient concentrations and
sensitive to further nutrient concentrations and
sensitive to further nutrient loadings. Also,
particular consideration shall be given to the
protection from nutrient enrichment of those
waters presently containing very low nutrient
concentrations: less than 0.3 milligrams per
liter total nitrogen or less than 0.04 milligrams
per liter total phosphorus.
(12) Public interest shall not be construed to mean
only those activities conducted solely to provide
facilities or benefits to the general public.
Private activities conducted for private purposes
may also be in the public interest.
(13) The Commission, recognizing the complexity of
water quality management and the necessity to
temper regulatory actions with the technolgocial
progress and the social and economic well-being of
people, urges, however, that there be no
compromise where discharges of pollutants
constitute a valid hazard to human health.
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State General Provisions
(14) The Commission request that the Secretary seek and
use the best environmental information available
when making decisions on the effects of
chronically and acutely toxic substances and
carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic
substances. Additionally, the Secretary is
requested to seek and encourage innovative
research and developments in waste treatment
alternatives that might better preserve
environmental quality or at the same time reduce
the energy and dollar costs of operation.
(15) The present and future most beneficial uses of
groundwaters of the State shall be protected to
insure the availability and utility of this
invaluable resource. To achieve such protection,
the groundvaters of the State are classified and
appropriate specific water quality criteria for
those classes are set forth in this Chapter.
(16) The criteria set forth in this Chapter are minimum
levels which are necessary to protect the
designated uses of a water body. It is the intent
of this Commission that permit applicants should
not be penalized due to a low detection limit
associated with any specific criteria.
(17) In adoption of the Outstanding Florida Waters
designated on July 13, 1978, the Commission has
been assured by the Secretary that adequate public
notice has been given that these waters were being
considered for this designation and that public
comment was solicited and considered in
determining their designation.
(18)(a) The revisions made to Chapters 17-3 and 17-4 and
the adoption of Chapter 17-6, Florida
Administrative Code, are designed to protect the
public health or welfare and to enhance the
quality of waters of the State. They have been
established taking into consideration the use and
value of waters of the State for public water
supplies, propagation of fish and wildlife,
recreational purposes, and agricultural,
industrial, and other purposes, and also taking
into consideration their use and value for
navigation.
(b) Under the approach taken in the formulation of the
rules adopted in this proceeding:
1. These revisions to Chapters 17-3, 17-4 and
adoption of Chapter 17-6, F.A.C., are based
upon the best scientific knowledge related to
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State General Provisions
the protection of the various designated uses
of waters of the State; and
2. The mixing zone, zone of discharge, site
specific alternative criteria, exemption, and
equitable allocation provisions are designed to
provide an opportunity for the future
consideration of factors relating to localized
situations vhich could not adequately be
addressed in this proceeding, including
economic and social consequences,
attainability, irretrievable conditions,
natural background, and detectability.
(c) This is an even-handed and balanced approach to
attainment of water quality objectives. The
Commission has specifically recognized that the
social, economic and environmental costs may,
under certain special circumstances, outweigh
the social, economic and environmental benefits
if the numerical criteria are enforced
statewide. It is for that reason that the
Commission has provided for mixing zones, zones
of discharge, site specific alternative
criteria, exemptions and other provisions in
Chapters 17-3, 17-4, and 17-6, F.A.C.
Furthermore, the continued availability of the
moderating provisions is a vital factor
providing a basis for - the Commission's
determination that water quality standards
applicable to water classes in the rule are
attainable taking into consideration
environmental, technological, social, economic,
and institutional factors. The companion
provisions of Chapters 17-4 and 17-6, F.A.C.,
approved simultaneously with these Water
Quality Standards are incorporated herein by
reference as a substantive part of the State's
comprehensive program for the control,
abatement and prevention of water pollution.
(d) Without the moderating provisions described in
(b)2. above, the Commission would not have
adopted the revisions described in (b)l. above
nor determined that they are attainable as
generally applicable water quality standards.
Specific Authority: 403.061, 403.062, 403.087,
403.504, 403.704, 403.804, 403.805, F.S.
Law Implemented: 403.021, 403.061, 403.085,
403.086, 403.087, 403.088, 403.101, 403.141,
403.161, 403.182, 403.502, 403.702, 403.708,
403.802, F.S.
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State General Provisions
History: Formerly 28-5.01, 17-3..01, Amended
and Renumbered 3-1-79, Amended 2-1-83.
17-3.041 Special Protection, Outstanding Florida
Waters
(1) It shall be the Department policy to afford the
highest protection to Outstanding Florida Vaters
(a complete listing of which is provided in
subsection (A)) which generally include the
following surface waters:
(a) waters in National Parks, Wildlife Refuges and
Wilderness Areas; and
(b) waters in the State Park System and Wilderness
Areas; and
(c) waters within areas purchased under the
Environmentally Endangered Lands Bond Program,
Conservation and Recreation Lands Program,
Land Acquisition Trust Fund Program, and Save
Our Coast Program; and
(d) rivers designated under the Florida Scenic and
Wild Rivers Program, federal Wild and Scenic
Rivers Act of 1968 as amended, and Myakka
River Wild and Scenic Designation and
Preservation Act; and
(e) waters within National Seashores, National
Marine Sanctuaries, National Estuarine
Research Reserves, and certain National
Monuments; and
(f) waters in Aquatic Preserves created under the
provisions of Chapter 258, Florida Statutes;
and
(g) waters within the Big Cypress National
Preserve; and
(h) Special Waters as listed in 17-3.041(4)(i); and
(i) Certain Waters within the Boundaries of the
National Forests.
(2) Each water body demonstrated to be of exceptional
recreational or ecological significance may be
designated as a Special Water. The following
procedure shall be used in designating a Special
Water.
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State General Provisions
(a) Rulemaking procedures pursuant to Chapter
120, F.S., and Chapter 17-1, F.A.C., shall
be followed.
(b) At least one fact-finding workshop shall be
held in the affected area;
(c) All local county or municipal governments
and state legislators whose districts or
jurisdictions include all or part of a
Special Water shall be notified at least 60
days prior to the workshop in writing by the
Secretary.
(d) A prominent public notice shall be placed in
a newspaper of general circulation in the
area of the proposed Special Water at least
60 days prior to the workshop.
(e) An economic impact analysis, consistent with
Chapter 120, shall be prepared which
provides a general analysis of the impact on
growth and development including such
factors as impacts on planned or potential
industrial, agricultural, or other
development or expansion; and
«•
(f) The Commission may designate a water of the
. State as a Special Water after making a
finding that the waters are of exceptional
recreational or ecological significance and
a finding that the environmental, social,
and economic benefits of the action
outweight the environmental, social, and
economic tests.
(3) The policy of this section shall be implemented
through the permitting process pursuant to
Section 17-4.242, F.A.C.
Georgia A. All waters shall be free from materials associated
with municipal or domestic sewage, industrial waste or
any other waste which will settle to form sludge
deposits that become putrescent, unsightly or
otherwise objectionable.
B. All waters shall be free from oil, scum and
floating debris associated with municipal or domestic
sewage, industrial waste or other discharges in
amounts sufficient to be unsightly or to interfere
with legitimate water uses.
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State
General Provisions
C. All waters shall be free from material related to
municipal, industrial or other discharges which
produce turbidity, color, odor or other objectionable
conditions which interfere with legitimate water uses.
D. All waters shall be free from toxic, corrosive,
acidic and caustic substances discharged from
municipalities, industries or other sources in
amounts, concentrations or combinations which are
harmful to humans, animals or aquatic life.
Hawaii
11
All waters shall be free of substances attributable to
domestic, industrial, or other controllable sources of
pollutants and subject to verification by monitoring
as may be prescribed by the Director of Health, as
follows:
A. Materials that will settle to form objectionable
sludge or bottom deposits.
B. Floating debris, oil, grease, scum, or other
floating materials.
C. Substances in amounts sufficient to produce taste
or odor in the water or detectable off flavor in the
flesh of fish, or in amounts sufficient to produce
objectionable color, turbidity, or other conditions in
the receiving waters. . • .
\
D. High temperatures; biocides; pathogenic organisms;
toxic, radioactive, corrosive, or other deleterious
substances at levels or in combinations sufficient to
be toxic or harmful to human, animal, plant, or
aquatic life, or in amounts sufficient to interfere
with any beneficial use of the water.
E. Substances or conditions or combinations thereof
in concentrations which produce undesirable aquatic
life.
P. Soil particles resulting from erosion on land
involved in earthwork, such as the construction of
public works; highways; subdivisions; recreational,
commercial or industrial developments; or the
cultivation and management of agricultural lands.
Idaho
12
Waters of the State must not contain:
A. Hazardous Materials - Hazardous materials (see
Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Rules and
Regulations Section 01.2003,19.) in concentrations
found to be of public health significance or to
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State General Provisions
adversely affect designated or protected beneficial
uses. These materials do not include suspended
sediment produced as a result of nonpoint source
activities.
B. Deleterious Materials - Deleterious materials (see
Idaho Department of Health and Velfare Rules and
Regulations Section 01.2003,07.) in concentrations
that impair designated or protected beneficial uses
without being hazardous: These materials do not
include suspended sediment produced as a result of
nonpoint source activities.
C. Radioactive Materials - Radioactive materials or
radioactivity which:
(a) Exceed one-third (1/3) of the values listed in
Idaho Department of Health and Velfare Rules and
Regulations, Title 1, chapter 9, Section
01.9110,03.a.ii., "Rules Governing Radiation
Control."
(b) Exceed concentrations required to meet the
"Radiation Protection Guides" for maximum
exposure of critical human organs recommended by
the former Federal Radiation council in the case
of food stuffs harvested from these waters for
human consumption.
D. Floating, Suspended or Suboerged Matter -
Floating, suspended, or submerged matter of any kind
in concentrations causing nuisance or objectionable
conditions or that may adversely affect designated
beneficial uses. this matter does not include
suspended sediment produced as a result of nonpoint
source activities.
E. Excess Nutrients - Excess nutrients that can cause
visible slime growths or other nuisance aquatic
growths impairing designated or protected beneficial
uses.
F. Oxygen-Demanding Materials - Oxygen-demanding
materials in concentrations that would result in an
anaerobic water condition.
G. Sediment - Sediment in quantities specified in
Idaho Department of Health and Velfare Rules and
Regulations Section 01.2250, or, in the absence of
specific sediment criteria, in quantities which impair
beneficial uses. Determinations of impairment shall
be based on water quality monitoring and surveillance
and the information utilized as described in Idaho
Department of Health and Velfare Rules and Regulations
Section 01.2300, 04.b.
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State
General Provisions
Illinois
13
Vaters of the State shall be free from unnatural
sludge or bottom deposits, floating debris, visible
oil, odor, unnatural plant or algal growth, unnatural
color or turbidity, or matter of other than natural
origin in concentrations or combinations toxic or
harmful to human, animal, plant, or aquatic life.
14
Indiana
All waters at all times and at all places, including
the mixing zone, shall meet the minimum conditions of
being free from substances, materials, floating
debris, oil or scum attributable to municipal,
industrial, agricultural, and other land use practices
or other discharges:
A. That will settle to form putrescent or otherwise
objectionable deposits,
B. That are in amounts sufficient to be unsightly or
deleterious,
C. That produce color, odor or other conditions in
such degree as to create a nuisance,
D. Which are in amounts sufficient to injure, be
acutely toxic to or otherwise produce serious adverse
physiological responses in humans, animals, aquatic
life or plants. As a guideline, toxic substances
should be limited to the 96-hour median lethal
concentration (LC50) for biota significant to the
indigenous aquatic community or other representative
organisms. This subsection shall not apply to the
chemical control of aquatic plants or animals when
that control is subject to approval by the Indiana
Department of Natural Resources as provided by the
Fish and Wildlife Act (1C 1971, 14-2-1),
E. Which are in concentrations or combinations that
will cause or contribute to the growth of aquatic
plants or algae to such a degree as to create a
nuisance, be unsightly or deleterious or be harmful to
human, animal, plant, or aquatic life or otherwise
impair the designated uses.
Iowa
15
The following criteria are applicable to all surface
waters including those which have been designated as
class "A", "B", or "C" waters, at all places and at
all times to protect livestock and wildlife watering,
aquatic life, noncontact recreation, crop irrigation,
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State General Provisions
and industrial, domestic, agricultural and other
incidental water withdrawal uses not protected by
class A, B, or C criteria in this rule.
A. Such waters shall be free from substances
attributable to point source wastewater discharges
that will settle to form sludge deposits.
B. Such waters shall be free from floating debris,
oil, grease, scum and other floating materials
attributable to wastewater discharges or agricultural
practices in amounts sufficient to create a nuisance.
C. Such waters shall be free from materials
attributable to wastewater discharges or agricultural
practices producing objectionable color, odor or other
aesthetically objectionable conditions.
D. Such waters shall be free from substances
attributable to wastewater discharges or agricultural
practices in concentrations or combinations which are
toxic or harmful to human, animal, or plant life.
E. Such waters shall be free from substances,
attributable to wastewater discharges or agricultural
practices, in quantities which vould produce
undesirable or nuisance aquatic life.
Kansas All surface waters shall be free, at all times, from
the harmful effects of substances that originate from
artificial sources and that produce any public health
hazards or nuisance conditions, or impairment of uses.
A. The harmful effects may result from:
(i) color producing substances;
(ii) heat or acidic or caustic substances;
(iii) Visible oil and grease and dissolved or
emulsified grease concentrations;
(iv) deposits of solids, either organic or
inorganic; floating materials attributable to
municipal, industrial, or other waste disposal
practices;
(v) Taste and odor-producing substances that
interfere with the production of potable water by
reasonable water treatment processes, or impart
unpalatable flavor to fish, or result in
noticeable offensive odors in the vicinity of the
water;
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State
General Provisions
(vi) Any concentration of a substance that
causes toxic effects, alone or in combination
vith other artificial or natural substances.
Such substances shall be limited to
concentrations in the receiving water that will
not be harmful to human, animal, or plant life.
Kentucky
17
Surface waters shall not be aesthetically or otherwise
degraded by substances that:
1. Settle to form objectionable deposits;
2. Float as debris, scum, oil, or other matter to
form a nuisance;
3. Produce objectionable color, odor, taste, or
turbidity;
•
4. Injure, be toxic to or produce adverse
physiological or behavioral responses in humans,
animals, fish, and other aquatic life;
5. Produce undesirable aquatic life or result in the
dominance of nuisance species.
6. Cause the following changes in radionuclides: «
a. Cause the gross total alpha particle activity
including radium-226 but excluding radium and uranium
to exceed 15 pCi/1;
b. Cause the combined radium-226 and radium-228 to
exceed 5 pCi/1 (specific determinations of radium-226
and radium-228 are not necessary if dissolved gross
particle activity does not exceed 5 pCi/1;
c. Cause the concentration of total gross beta
particle activity to exceed 50 pCi/1;
d. Cause the concentration of tritium to exceed
20,000 pCi/1;
e. Cause the concentration of total strontium-90 to
exceed eight (8) pCi/1.
Louisiana
18
All waters shall be free from such concentrations of
substances attributable to wastewater or other
discharges sufficient to:
A. settle to form objectionable deposits;
B. float as debris, scum, oil, or other matter to
form nuisances;
C. result in objectionable color, odor, taste, or
turbidity;
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State General Provisions
D. injure, be toxic or produce demonstrated adverse
physiological response in humans, animals, fish,
shellfish, wildlife, or plants; or
E. produce undesirable or nuisance aquatic life.
19
Maine All surface vaters of the State shall be free of
settled substances which alter the physical o.r
chemical nature of bottom material and of floating
substances, except as naturally occur, which impair
the characteristics and designated uses ascribed to
their class.
20
Maryland The waters of this State may not be polluted by:
1. Substances attributed to sewage,industrial waste,
or other waste that will -settle to form sludge
deposits that:
(a) Are unsightly, putrescent, or odorous; and
(b) Create a nuisance; or
(c) Interfere indirectly with water uses;
.2. Any material including floating debris, oil,
grease, scum, sludge and other floating .materials,
attributable to sewage, industrial waste, or other
waste in amounts sufficient to:
(a) Be unsightly and create a nuisance;
(b) Produce taste or odor;
(c) Change the existing color;
(d) Change other chemical or physical conditions in
the surface waters;
(e) create a nuisance; or
(f) Interfere directly or indirectly with water uses;
and
3. High-temperature, toxic, corrosive or other
deleterious substances attributable to sewage,
industrial waste, or other waste in concentrations or
combinations which:
(a) Interfere directly or indirectly with water uses;
or
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State
General Provisions
(b) Are harmful to human, animal, plant, or aquatic
life.
Massachusetts
21
Aesthetics - All waters shall be free from pollutants
in concentrations or combinations that:
a.
b.
c.
Settle to form objectionable deposits;
Float as debris, scum or other matter to from
nuisances;
Produce objectionable
turbidity;
odor, color, taste or
d. Result in the dominance or nuisance species.
Radioactive substances - Shall not exceed the
recommended limits of the United States Environmental
Protection Agency's National Drinking Water
Regulations.
Tainting Substances - Shall not be in concentrations
or combinations that produce undesirable flavors in
the edible portions of aquatic organisms.
Color, Turbidity, Total Suspended Solids - Shall not
be in concentrations or combinations that vould exceed
the recommended limits on the most sensitive receiving
vater use.
Oil and Grease - The vater surface shall be free from
floating oils, grease and petrochemicals and any
concentrations or combinations in the vater column or
sediments that are aesthetically objectionable or
deleterious to the biota are prohibited. For oil and
grease of petroleum origin the maximum allowable
discharge concentration in 15 mg/1.
Nutrients - Shall not exceed the site-specific limits
necessary to control accelerated or cultural
eutrophication.
Other constituents - Waters shall be free from
pollutants in concentrations or combinations that:
a.
b.
Exceed the recommended
sensitive receiving use;
limits on the most
Injure, are toxic to, or produce adverse
physiological or behavioral responses in humans
or aquatic life; or
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State
General Provisions
c. Exceed site-specific safe exposure levels
determined by bioassay using sensitive species.
Michigan
22
The waters of the state shall not contain unnatural
turbidity, color, oil films, floating solids, foams,
settleable solids, suspended solids, or deposits in
quantities which are or may become injurious to any
designated use.
Minnesota
23
No sewage, industrial waste or other wastes shall be
discharged from either point or nonpoint sources into
any intrastate waters of the state so as to cause any
nuisance conditions, such as the presence of
significant amounts of floating solids, scum, oil
slicks, excessive suspended solids, material
discolorations, obnoxious odors, gas ebullition,
deleterious sludge deposits, undesirable slimes or
fungus growths, or other offensive or harmful effects.
Mississippi
24
A. Vaters shall be free from substances attributable
to municipal, industrial, agricultural or other
discharges that will settle to form putrescent or
otherwise objectionable sludge deposits. •
B. Vaters shall be free from floating debris, oil,
scum, and other floating materials attributable to
municipal, industrial, agricultural or other
discharges in amounts sufficient to be unsightly or
deleterious.
C. Waters shall be free from materials attributable
to municipal, industrial, agricultural or other
discharges producing color, odor, or other conditions
in such degree as to create a nuisance.
D. Vaters shall be free from substances attributable
to municipal, industrial agricultural or other
discharges in concentrations or combinations which are
toxic or harmful to humans, animals or aquatic life.
Missouri
25
All waters of the State at all times shall be:
A. Free from substances that will cause the formation
of putrescent or otherwise objectionable bottom
deposits.
B. Free from oil, scum and floating debris
sufficient amounts to be unsightly or deleterious.
in
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State
General Provisions
C. Free from materials that cause color, odor, or
other conditions in such degree as to create a
nuisance.
D. Free from substances or conditions that have a
harmful effect on human, animal, or aquatic life.
Montana
26
State surface vaters must be free from substances
attributable to municipal, industrial, agricultural
practices or other discharges that will:
A. Settle to form objectionable sludge deposits or
emulsions beneath the surface of the water or upon
adjoining shorelines;
B. Create floating debris, scum, a visible oil film
(or be present in concentrations at or in excess of 10
mg/1) or globules of grease or other floating
materials;
C. Produce odors, colors or other conditions as to
which create a nuisance or render undesirable tastes
to fish flesh or make fish inedible;
D. Create concentrations or combinations of materials
which are toxic or harmful to human, animal, plant or
aquatic life; and
E. Create conditions which produce undesirable
aquatic life.
Nebraska
27
Toxic Substances - 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.
Aesthetics and Public Health - Vaters 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
3. the occurrence of undesirable or nuisance aquatic
life
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State General Provisions
2
Nevada 8 The following standards are applicable to all waters
of the State:
A. Waters must be free from substances attributable
to domestic or industrial waste or other controllable
sources that will settle to form sludge or bottom
deposits in amounts sufficient to be unsightly,
putrescent or odorous or in amounts sufficient to
interfere with any beneficial use of the water.
B. Waters must be free from floating debris, oil,
grease, scum and other floating materials attributable
to domestic or industrial waste or other controllable
sources in amounts sufficient to be unsightly or in
amounts sufficient to interfere with any beneficial
use of the vater.
C. Waters must be free from materials attributable to
domestic or industrial waste or other controllable
sources in amounts sufficient to produce taste or odor
in the water or detectable off-flavor in the flesh of
fish or in amounts sufficient to change the existing
color, turbidity or other conditions in the receiving
stream to such a degree as to create a public nuisance
or in amounts sufficient to interfere with any
beneficial use of the water.
D. Waters must be free from high temperature,
biocides, organisms pathogenic to human beings, toxic,
corrosive or other deleterious substances attributable
to domestic or industrial waste or other controllable
sources at levels or combinations sufficient to be
toxic to human, animal, plant or aquatic life or in
amounts sufficient to interfere with any beneficial
use of the water.
E. The presence of toxic materials in a water must be
evaluated by use of a 96-hour bioassay. Survival of
test organisms must not be less than that in control
tests which utilize appropriate control water. The
test organisms and control water must be specified by
the department. In addition, acute bioassays may be
required to determine effluent limitations and the
exact test method to be used must be defined by the
department. Failure to determine presence of toxic
materials by these methods does not preclude
determination of excessive levels of toxic materials
on the basis of other criteria or methods.
F. Radioactive materials attributable to municipal,
industrial or other controllable sources must be the
minimum concentrations which are physically and
economically feasible to achieve. In no case must
materials exceed the limits established in the 1962
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State General Provisions
Public Health Service Drinking Water Standards (or
later amendments) or l/30th of the MPC values given
for continuous occupational exposure in the "National
Bureau of Standards Handbook No. 69." The
concentrations in water must ' not result in
accumulation of radioactivity in plants or animals
that result in a hazard to humans or harm to aquatic
life.
G. Waste from municipal, industrial or other
controllable sources containing arsenic, barium,
boron, cadmium, chromium, cyanide, fluoride, lead,
selenium, silver, copper and zinc that are reasonably
amenable to treatment of control must not be
discharged untreated or uncontrolled into the waters
of Nevada. In addition, the limits for concentrations
of the chemical constituents must provide water
quality consistent with the mandatory requirements of
the 1962 Public Health Service Drinking Water
Standards.
H. The specified standards are not considered
violated when the natural conditions of the receiving
water are outside the established limits, including
periods of extreme high or low flow. Where effluents
are discharged to such waters, the discharges are
not considered a contributor to substandard conditions
provided maximum treatment in compliance with permit
requirements is maintained.
i, . t
29
New Hampshire A. Class A waters shall be of the highest quality and
shall contain not more than fifty coliform bacteria
per one hundred milliliters. There shall be no
discharge of any sewage or wastes into waters of this
classification. The waters of this classification
shall be considered as being potentially acceptable
for water supply uses after disinfection.
B. Class B waters shall be of the second highest
quality and shall have no objectionable physical
characteristics. There shall be no disposal of sewage
or waste into said waters except those which have
received adequate treatment to prevent the lowering of
the physical, chemical or bacteriological
characteristics below those given above, nor shall
such disposal of sewage or waste be inimical to fish
life or to the maintenance of fish life in said
receiving waters. The waters of this classification
shall be considered as being acceptable for bathing
and other recreational purposes and, after adequate
treatment, for use as water supplies.
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State General Provisions
C. Class C waters shall be of the third highest
quality and shall be free from slick, odors,
turbidity, and surface-floating solids of unreasonable
kind or quantity, and shall be free from chemicals and
other materials and conditions inimical to fish life
or the maintenance of fish life. The waters of this
classification shall be considered as being acceptable
for recreational boating, fishing, or for industrial
water . supply uses either with or without treatment
depending upon individual requirements.
D. Class D waters shall be the lowest classification
and shall be free from slick, sludge deposits, odors,
and surface-floating materials of unreasonable kind,
quantity or duration, taking into consideration the
necessities of the industries involved. The waters of
this classification shall be aesthetically acceptable.
Such water shall also be suitable for certain
industrial purposes, power and navigation.
30
Nev Jersey Toxic substances in waters of the State shall not be
at levels that are toxic to humans or the aquatic
biota, or that bioaccumulate in the aquatic biota so
as to render them unfit for human consumption.
Nev Mexico31 1-102. GENERAL STANDARDS.
The following general standards apply at all times
(unless otherwise specified in Part 2) to all surface
waters of the State which can support any of the
following attainable uses: any subcategory of fishery
(high quality coldwater, coldwater, marginal
coldwater, warmwater or limited warmwater fishery),
either subcategory of recreation (primary or secondary
contact recreation), domestic water supply, livestock
and wildlife watering, or irrigation. The general
standards are not intended to provide for support of
undesirable aquatic life. Watercourses shall be free
of any water contaminant in such quantity and of such
duration as may with reasonable probability inure
human health, animal or plant life or property, or to
unreasonably interfere with the public welfare or the
use of property. The occurrence of a water
contaminant or a deficiency of dissolved oxygen
attributable to natural causes or the reasonable
operation and maintenance of irrigation and flood
control facilities is not subject to these standards.
A. Stream Bottom Deposits: The stream shall be free
of water contaminants from other than natural causes
that will settle and adversely inhibit the growth of
normal flora and fauna or significantly alter the
physical or chemical properties of the bottom.
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State General Provisions
Siltation resulting from the reasonable operation and
maintenance of irrigation and flood control facilities
is not subject to these standards.
B. .Floating Solids, Oil and Grease: Receiving water
shall be free of objectionable oils, scum, grease and
other floating materials resulting from other than
natural causes.
C. Color: Color-producing materials resulting from
other than natural causes shall not create an
aesthetically undesirable condition nor should color
impair the use of the vater by desirable aquatic life
presently common in New Mexico waters.
D. Odor and Taste of Fish: Vater contaminants from
other than natural causes shall be limited to
concentrations that will not impart unpalatable flavor
to fish, or result in offensive odor arising from the
stream or otherwise interfere with the reasonable use
of the water.
B. Pathogens: The stream shall be virtually free of
pathogens. In particular, waters used for irrigation
of table crops such as lettuce shall be virtually free
of Salmonella and Shigella species.
32
Nev York. Turbidity - No increase except from- natural sources
that will cause a substantial visible contrast to
natural conditions.* In cases of naturally turbid
waters, the contrast will be due to increased
turbidity.
Color - None from man-made sources that will be
detrimental to anticipated best usage of water.
Suspended, colloidal or settleable solids - None from
sewage, industrial wastes or other wastes which will
cause deposition or be deleterious for any best usage
determined for the specific waters which are assigned
to each class.
Oil and floating substances - No residue attributable
to sewage, industrial wastes or other wastes nor
visible oil film nor globules of grease.
Taste and odor-producing substances, toxic wastes and
deleterious substances - None in amounts that will be
injurious to fishlife or which in any manner shall
adversely affect the flavor, color or odor thereof, or
impair the waters for any best usage as determined for
the specific waters which are assigned to each class.
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State General Provisions
North Carolina Drinking Vater Supply (disinfection only)
A. nonpoint . source pollution: only that pollution
which will not adversely impact the waters for use as
a water supply or any other designated use.
B. Sewage, industrial, wastes, or other wastes: none
C. Toxic and other deleterious substances: none
Drinking Vater Supply (treatment plus disinfection)
A. Industrial wastes: none except for non-process
industrial discharges specifically approved by the
commission;
B. Nonpoint Source Pollution: only that pollution
which will not adversely impact the waters for use as
a water supply of any other designated use;
C. Odor producing substances contained in sewage,
industrial wastes, or other wastes: only such
amounts, whether alone or in combination with other
substances or wastes, as will not cause taste and odor
difficulties in water supplies which cannot be
corrected by treatment, impair the palatability of
fish, or have a deleterious effect upon any best usage
established for waters of this class;
D. Sewage, industrial wastes, and other wastes: none
which will have an adverse effect on human health or
which are not effectively treated to the satisfaction
of the commission and in accordance with the
requirements of the Division of Health Services, North
Carolina Department of Human Resources;
E. Toxic and other deleterious substances: none
Recreational Vater Supply
A. Odor producing substances contained in sewage,
industrial wastes, or other wastes: only such
amounts, whether alone or in combination with other
substances or wastes, as will not cause taste and odor
difficulties in water supplies which cannot be
corrected by treatment, impair the palatability of
fish, or have a deleterious effect upon any best usage
established for waters of this class.
B. Sewage, industrial wastes, or other wastes: none
which will have an adverse effect on human health or
which are not effectively treated to the satisfaction
of the commission and in accordance with the
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State General Provisions
requirements of the Division of Health Services, North
Carolina Department of Human Resources.
C. Total dissolved solids: not greater than 500 mg/1.
D. Toxic and other deleterious substances: none.
North Dakota All waters of the state shall be:
A. Free from substances attributable to municipal,
industrial, or other discharges or agricultural
practices that will cause the formation of putrescent
or otherwise objectionable sludge deposits.
B. Free from floating debris, oil, scum, and other
floating materials attributable to municipal,
industrial, or other discharges or agricultural
practices in sufficient amount to be unsightly or
deleterious.
C. Free from materials attributable to municipal,
industrial, or other discharges or agricultural
practices producing color, odor, or other conditions
in such a degree as to create a nuisance or render any
undesirable taste to fish flesh, or in any way, make
fish inedible.
D. Free from substances attributable to municipal,
industrial, or other discharges or agricultural
practices in concentrations or combinations which are
toxic or harmful to human, animal, plant, or resident
aquatic biota.
E. Free from oil or grease residue attributable to
wastewater, which causes a visible film or sheen upon
the waters or any discoloration of the surface of
adjoining shoreline or causes a sludge or emulsion to
be deposited beneath the surface of the water or upon
the adjoining shorelines or prevents classified uses
of such waters.
F. There shall be no materials such as garbage,
rubbish, trash, cans, bottles, or any unwanted or
discarded material disposed of into the waters of the
state.
Ohio The waters of the state to every extent practical and
possible shall be:
A. Free from suspended solids or other substances
that enter the waters as a result of human activity
and that will settle to form putrescent or otherwise
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State General Provisions
objectionable sludge deposits, or that will adversely
affect aquatic life;
B. Free from floating debris, oil, scum and other
floating materials entering the waters as a result of
human activity in amounts sufficient to be unsightly
or cause degradation;
C. Free from materials entering the waters as a
result of human activity producing color, odor or
other conditions in such a degree as to create a
nuisance;
D. Free from substances entering the waters as a
result of human activity in concentrations that are
toxic or harmful to human, animal or aquatic life
and/or are rapidly lethal in the mixing zone;
E. Free from nutrients entering the waters as a
result of human activity in concentrations that create
nuisance growths of aquatic weeds and algae.
36
Oklahoma To be aesthetically enjoyable, the surface waters of
the State must be free from floating materials and
suspended substances that produce objectionable color
and turbidity. The water must also be free from
noxious odors and tastes, from materials that settle
to form objectionable deposits, and discharges that
prdduce undesirable or nuisance aquatic life.
Color - Surface waters of the State shall be virtually
free from all coloring materials which produce an
aesthetically unpleasant appearance.
Solids - The surface waters of the State shall be
maintained so as to be essentially free of floating
debris, bottom deposits, scum, foam and other
materials, including suspended substances of a
persistent nature, from other than natural sources.
Taste and Odor - Taste and odor producing substances
from other than natural origin shall be limited to
concentrations that will not interfere with the
production of a potable water supply by modern
treatment methods or produce abnormal flavors, colors,
tastes and odors in fish flesh or other edible
wildlife, or result in offensive odors in the vicinity
of the water, or otherwise interfere with beneficial
uses.
37
Oregon Not specified
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ERRATA SHEET — OREGON TOXICS
U>) Toxic Substances:
(A) Toxic substances shall not be introduced above
natural background levels in the waters of the state in
amounts, concentrations, or combinations which may be
harmful, may chemically change to harmful forms in the
environment, or may bioaccumulate to levels that adversely
affect public health, safety, or welfare; aquatic life; or other
designated beneficial uses.
(B) Levels of toxic substances shall not exceed the most
recent criteria values for organic and inorganic pollutants
established by EPA and published in Quality Criteria for
Water(1986). A list of the criteria is presented in Table 20.
(Q The criteria in paragraph (B) of this subsection shall
apply unless data from scientifically valid studies demon-
strate that the most sensitive designated beneficial uses will
not be adversely affected by exceeding a criterion or that a
more restrictive criterion is warranted to protect beneficial
uses, as accepted by the Department on a site specific basis.
Where no published EPA criteria exist for a toxic substance.
public health advisories and other.published scientific liter-
ature may be considered and used, if appropriate, to set
guidance values.
(D) Bio-assessment studies such as laboratory bioassays
or instream measurements of indigenous biological commu-
nities, shall be conducted, as the Department deems neces-
sary, to monitor the toxicity of complex effluents, other
suspected discharges or chemical substances without
numeric criteria, to aquatic life. These studies, properly
conducted in accordance with standard testing procedures.
may be considered as scientifically valid data for the pur-
poses of paragraph (C) of this subsection. If toxicity occurs.
the Department shall evaluate and implement measures
necessary to reduce toxicity on a case-by-case basis.
32a
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State
General Provisions
Pennsylvania
38
Vater shall not contain substances attributable to
point or nonpoint source waste discharges in
concentration or amounts sufficient to be inimical or
harmful to the water uses to be protected or to human,
animal, plant or aquatic life.
Specific substances to be controlled shall include,
but shall not be limited to floating debris, oil,
grease, scum and other floating materials, toxic
substances, pesticides, chlorinated hydrocarbons,
carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic materials, and
substances which produce color, tastes, odors,
turbidity, or settle to form deposits.
Rhode Island
39
1. At a minimum, all waters shall be free of
pollutants in concentrations that will:
Adversely effect
aquatic life;
the composition of bottom
b.
c.
d.
Adversely effect the physical or chemical nature
of the bottom;
Interfere with
shellfish; or
the propagation of fish and
and
Undesirably alter the qualitative
quantitative character of the biota.
2. Aesthetics - All waters shall be free from
pollutants in concentrations or combinations that:
a. Settle to form objectionable deposits;
b. Float as debris, scum or other matter to form
nuisances;
c. Produce objectionable odor, color, taste or
turbidity; or,
d. Result in the dominance of nuisance species.
South Carolina
40
All ground waters and surface waters of the State
shall at all times, regardless of flow, be free from:
A. Sewage, industrial waste, or other waste that will
settle to form sludge deposits that are unsightly,
putrescent, or odorous to such degree as to create a
nuisance or interfere with classified water uses or
existing water uses;
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State General Provisions
B. Floating debris, oil, grease, scum, an other
floating material attributable to sewage, industrial
waste,or other waste in amounts sufficient to be
unsightly to such a degree as to create a nuisance or
interfere with classified water uses or existing water
uses;
C. Sewage, industrial, or other waste which produce
taste or odor or change the existing color or
physical, chemical, or biological conditions in the
receiving waters or aquifers to such a degree as to
create a nuisance or interfere with classified uses or
existing water uses; and,
D. High temperature, toxic, corrosive, or deleterious
substances attributable to sewage, industrial waste,
or other waste in concentrations or combinations which
interfere with classified water uses, existing water
uses, or which are harmful to human, animal, plant or
aquatic life.
41
South Dakota Visible pollutants prohibited - Raw or treated sewage,
garbage, municipal wastes, industrial wastes or
agricultural wastes which produce floating solids,
scum, oil slicks, material discoloration, visible
gassing, sludge-deposits, slimes, algal blooms, fungus
growths, or . other offensive effects may not be
discharged or caused to be discharged into any lake or
stream.
Toxic materials prohibited - Substances which produce
concentrations of any substance toxic to humans,
animals, plants, or aquatic life may not be discharged
or caused to be discharged into any lake or stream.
Taste and odor producing chemicals - No materials may
be discharged or caused to be discharged into any lake
or stream which will impart undesirable tastes or
undesirable odors to the receiving water in
concentrations that impair a beneficial use.
Nuisance aquatic life - No materials may be discharged
or caused to be discharged into any lake or stream in
concentrations which produce aquatic life which impair
a beneficial use or create a health problem.
Petroleum products - No insoluble materials of
petroleum derivation may be discharged or caused to be
discharged into a lake or stream which results in
concentrations in excess of 10 mg/1 or imparts a
visible film or sheen to the surface of the water of
the adjoining shorelines.
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State General Provisions
42
Tennessee Solids, Floating Materials and Deposits - There shall
be no distinctly visible solids, scum, foam, oily
sleek, or the formation of slimes, bottom deposits or
sludge banks of such size or character as may impair
the usefulness of the water as a source of domestic
water supply.
Turbidity or color - There shall be no turbidity or
color in amounts or characteristics that cannot be
reduced to acceptable concentrations by conventional
water treatment processes.
Taste or Odor - the waters shall not contain
substances which will result in taste or odor that
prevent the production of potable water by
conventional water treatment processes.
Toxic Substances - the waters shall not contain toxic
substances, whether alone or in combination with other
substances, which will produce toxic conditions that
materially affect the health and safety of man or
animals, or impair the safety of conventionally
treated water supplies.
/3
Texas . (b) Aesthetic.parameters. .
(1) Concentrations of taste and odor ' producing
substances shall not interfere with the production of
potable water by reasonable water treatment methods,
impart unpalatable flavor to food fish including
shellfish, result in offensive odors arising from the
waters, or otherwise interfere with the reasonable use
of the water in the state.
(2) Surface water shall be essentially free of
floating debris and suspended solids that are
conducive to producing adverse responses in aquatic
organisms or putrescible sludge deposits or sediment
layers which adversely affect benthic biota or any
lawful uses.
(3) Surface waters shall be essentially free of
settleable solids conducive to changes in flow
characteristics of stream channels or the untimely
filling of reservoirs, lakes, and bays.
(4) Surface waters shall be maintained in an
aesthetically attractive condition.
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State
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(5) Vaste discharges
persistent changes
turbidity or color.
shall not cause substantial and
from ambient conditions of
(6) There shall be no foaming or frothing of a
persistent nature.
(7) Surface waters shall be maintained so that oil,
grease, or related residue will not produce a visible
film of oil or globules of grease on the surface or
coat the banks or bottoms of the vatercourse.
Utah
44
Vermont
45
It shall be unlawful, and a violation of these
regulations, for any person to discharge or place any
vaste or other substance in such a way as will be or
may become offensive such as unnatural deposits,
floating debris, oil, scum or other nuisances such as
color, odor or taste; or conditions which produce
undesirable aquatic life or which produce
objectionable tastes in edible aquatic organisms; or
concentrations or combinations of substances which
produce undesirable physiological responses in
desirable resident fish, or other desirable aquatic
life, as determined by bioassay or other tests
performed in accordance with standard procedures
determined by the committee.
3.' Nutrients - No increase which would accelerate
eutrophication or result in concentrations that may
stimulate the growth of aquatic plants, fungi or
bacteria, in a manner which has an undue adverse
effect on any beneficial values or uses.
4. Aquatic Habitat - No change from background
conditions which would have an undue adverse effect on
the composition of the aquatic biota, the physical or
chemical nature of the substrate or the species
composition or propagation of fishes.
5. Sludge deposits or solid refuse - None
6. Settleable solids, floating solids, oil, grease,
scum, or total suspended solids - None in such
concentrations or combinations which would have an
undue adverse effect on any beneficial values or uses.
Virginia
46
All State waters shall be free from substances
attributable to sewage, industrial waste, or other
waste in concentrations, amounts, or combinations
which contravene established standards or interfere
directly or indirectly with reasonable, beneficial
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State
General Provisions
uses of such water or vhich are inimical or harmful to
human, animal, plant, or aquatic life. Specific
substances to be controlled include, but are not
limited to: floating debris, oil, scum, and other
floating materials; toxic substances; substances that
produce color, tastes, turbidity, odors, or settle to
form sludge deposits, and substances vhich nourish
undesirable or nuisance aquatic plant life. Effluents
vhich tend to raise the temperature of the receiving
vater vill also be controlled.
Washington
47
Aesthetic values shall not be impaired by the presence
of materials or their effects, excluding those of
natural origin, vhich offend the senses of sight,
smell, touch, or taste.
Vest Virginia
48
No sevage, industrial vastes or other vastes present
in any of the vaters of the State shall cause therein
or materially contribute to any of the following
conditions thereof:
A. Distinctly visible floating or settleable solids,
suspended solids, scum, foam or oily slicks;
B. Deposits or sludge banks on the bottom;
C. Odors in the vicinity of the vaters;
D. Taste and/or odor that vould adversely affect the
designated uses of the affected vaters;
E. Concentrations of materials harmful, hazardous or
toxic to man, animal or aquatic life;
F. Distinctly visible color;
G. Concentrations of bacteria vhich may impair or
interfere with the designated uses of the affected
vaters;
H. Requiring an unreasonable degree of treatment for
the production of potable vater by modern vater
treatment processes as commonly employed.
I. Any other condition, including radiological
exposure, vhich alters the chemical, physical or
biological integrity of the waters of the State.
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Wyoming
50
General Provisions
Practices attributable to municipal, industrial,
commercial, domestic, agricultural, land development
or other activities shall be controlled so that all
waters including the mixing zone and the effluent
channel meet the following conditions at all times and
under all flow conditions :
A. Substances that will cause objectionable deposits,
on the shore or in the bed of a body of water, shall
not be present in such amounts as to interfere with
public rights in waters of the state.
B. Floating or submerged debris, oil, scum or other
material shall not be present in such amounts as to
interfere with public rights in waters of the state.
C. Materials producing color, odor, taste or
unsightliness shall not be present in such amounts as
to interfere with public rights in waters of the state.
D. Substances in concentrations or combinations which
are toxic or harmful to humans shall not be present in
amounts found to be of public health significance, nor
shall substances be present in amounts which are
acutely harmful to animal, plant or aquatic life.
Settleable Solids - In all Wyoming surface waters
attributable to or influenced by the activities of man
that will settle to form sludge, bank or bottom
deposits shall not be present in quantities which
could result in significant aesthetic degradation,
significant degradation of habitat for aquatic life or
adversely affect public water supplies, agricultural
or industrial water use, plant life or wildlife, etc.
Floating Solids - In all Wyoming surface waters
floating debris, scum, and other floating materials
attributable to or influenced by the activities of man
shall not be present in quantities which could result
in significant aesthetic degradation, significant
degradation of habitat for aquatic life, or adversely
affect public water supplies, agricultural or
industrial water use, plant life or wildlife, etc.
Taste, Odor and Color - All class I, II, and III
waters shall not contain substances attributable to or
influenced by the activities of man which produce
taste, odor and color and that would:
a. Of themselves or in combination, impart an
unpalatable or off-flavor in fish flesh;
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State
General Provisions
b.
c.
d.
Visibly alter
impart color
structures;
the natural color of the water or
to skin, clothing, vessels, or
Produce detectable odor; or
Directly through interaction among themselves, or
with chemicals used in existing water treatment
processes, result in concentrations that will
impart undesirable taste or odor to public water
supplies.
American Samoa
51
A. They shall be substantially free from materials
attributable to sewage, industrial wastes, or other
activities of man that will produce color, odor, or
taste, either of itself or in combinations, or in the
biota.
B. They shall be substantially free from visible
floating materials, grease, oil, scum, foam, and other
floating matter attributable to sewage, industrial
wastes, or other activities of man.
C. They shall be substantially free from materials
attributable to sewage, industrial wastes, or other
activities of man that will produce visible turbidity
or settle to form deposits.
D. They shall be free from substances and conditions
or combinations thereof attributable to sewage,
industrial wastes, or other activities of man which
may be toxic to humans, other animals, plants, and
aquatic life.
52
District of Columbia The waters of the District shall be free from
substances attributable to point or non-point sources
discharged in concentrations that do the following:
A. Settle to form objectionable deposits;
B. Float as debris, scum, oil or other matter to form
nuisances;
C. Produce objectionable odor, color, taste or
turbidity;
D. Injure, are toxic to or produce adverse
physiological or behavioral responses in humans,
plants or animals; or,
E. Produce undesirable aquatic life or result in the
dominance of nuisance species.
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Guan
53
All waters shall meet generally accepted aesthetic
qualifications, shall be capable of supporting
desirable aquatic life, and shall be free from
substances, conditions or combinations thereof
attributable to domestic, commercial and industrial
discharges or agricultural, construction and land-use
practices or other human activities that:
1. cause visible floating materials, debris, oils,
grease, scum, foam or other floating matter;
2. produce visible turbidity, settle to form deposits
or otherwise adversely affect desirable aquatic life;
3. produce objectionable color, odor, or taste,
directly or by chemical or biological action;
4. are toxic or harmful to humans, animals, plants or
desirable aquatic life; and
5. induce the growth of undesirable aquatic life.
Puerto Rico
55
Solids and other Matter - The waters of Puerto Rico
shall not contain material attributable to discharges
that will settle to form objectionable deposits. Nor
will they contain floating debris, scum, oil and other
floating materials attributable to discharges in
amounts sufficient to be unsightly or deleterious.
Color, Odor, Taste or Turbidity - The waters of Puerto
Rico shall be free from color, odor, taste or
turbidity attributable to discharges in such a degree
as to create a nuisance.
Toxic Substances - The waters of Puerto Rico shall not
contain any substance in a concentration which is
toxic or which produces undesirable physiological
responses in human, fish or other animal life, or
plants.
Trust Territory
56
All waters shall be:
A. Free of visible floating materials, oils, grease,
scum, and other floating matter attributable to the
activities of man.
B. Free from materials attributable to sewage,
industrial waste or other activities of man that
produce visible turbidity or settle out to form
deposits.
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State General Provisions
C. Free from materials attributable to sewage,
industrial waste or other activities of man that
produce objectionable color, odor or taste directly or
by chemical or biological action in the water or biota.
D. Free from substances attributable to the
activities of man that induce undesirable aquatic life
or degrade the indigenous biota.
E. Free from substances and conditions attributable
to the activities of man that may be toxic or cause
irritation to humans, animals, or plants.
Virgin Islands All surface waters shall meet generally accepted
aesthetic qualifications and shall be capable of
supporting diversified aquatic life. These waters
shall be free of substances attributable to municipal,
industrial, or other discharges or wastes as follows:
A. Materials that will settle to form objectionable
deposits.
B. Floating debris, oil, scum, and other matter.
C. Substances producing objectionable color, odor, flB
taste, or turbidity. * ' . r"r~
f
D. Materials, including radionuclides, in
concentrations or combinations which are toxic or
which produce undesirable physiological responses in
human, fish and other animal life, and plants.
E. Substances and conditions or combinations thereof
in concentrations which produce undesirable aquatic
life.
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