^ ^ PRO^° WATER QUALITY STANDARDS CRITERIA DIGEST A COMPILATION OF FEDERAL/STATE CRITERIA ON - ACIDITY/ ALKALINITY- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WASHINGTON, D.C. ------- INTRODUCTION This digest was compiled in order to provide general information to the public as well as to Federal, State, and local officials. It contains excerpts from the individual Federal-State water quality standards establishing • aciditv-alka- linitycriteria for interstate waters. The water quality standards program is directed by the Environmental Protection Agency, an independent regulatory agency which has responsibility for approving State-adopted standards for interstate waters,evaluating adherence to the standards, and overseeing enforcement of stan- dards compliance. Standards, the first nationwide strategy for water quality management, contain four major elements: the use (recreation, drinking water, fish and wildlife propagation, industrial, or agricultural) to be made of the interstate water; criteria to proteet those uses; implementation plans (for needed industrial- municipal waste treatment improvements, among others) and enforcement plans; and an antidegradation statement to protect existing high quality waters. Minimum water quality criteria, or numerical specification of physical, chemical, temperature, and biological levels, are stated in the National Technical Advisory Committee report to the Secretary of the Interior, Water Quality Criteria, dated April 1, 1968, and published by the Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. Unavailability of the NTAC report before June 30, 1967--the date set by the Water Quality Act of 1965 for formal adoption of State standards--resulted in significant variations between the state-adopted and the NTAC minimum criteria. Some standards were adopted and approved before the NTAC report became available. Also, the Water Quality Criteria report is subject to updating in light of new scientific and technical information. All water quality standards contain an irxlex of the hydrogen ion activity - pH. Even though pH determinations are used as an indication of acidity and/or alkalinity, pH is not a measure of either. Acidity in natural waters is caused by carbon dioxide, mineral acids, weakly dissociated acids, and the salts of strong acids and weak bases. Alkalinity is caused by strong bases and the salts of strong alkalies and weak acids. In most productive, fresh, natural waters, the pH falls in the range between 6.5 and 8.5 (except when increased by photosynthetic activity). The acceptable pH range for waters used as public water supplies is 6.0-8.5. Since water quality standards experience revisions and upgrading from time to time, following procedures set forth in the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, individual entries in this digest may be superseded. As these revisions are accomplished, this digest will be updated and reissued. Because this publication is not intended for use other than as a general information resource, for the latest information, and for special purposes and applications, refer to the existing approved water quality standards which can be obtained from the State water pollution control agencies or EPA Washington, D.C. or regional offices. Individual State-adopted criteria follow: ------- KEY PWS Public Water Supply F§WL Fish and Wildlife Agr. Agricultural Ind. Industrial Rec. Recreation Nav. Navigation For explanation of use classifications see EPA Water Quality Standards publication, "General Stream Use Designations." ------- Acidity-Alkalinity (pH) Criteria Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California PWS Sewage, industrial waste or other Swimming wastes shall not cause the pH to F§WL deviate more than ore unit from the normal Agr. or natural pH nor he less than 6.0 nor Ind. greater than 8.5. Swimming For estuarine and salt waters to FFrWL which this classification is assigned, wastes as described herein shall not cause the pH to deviate more than one unit from the normal or natural pH nor be less than 6.5 or greater than 8.5. Shell- . . . not . . . deviate more than one fish unit from normal or natural pH nor be less than 6.5 nor greater than 8.5. Naviga- . . . not cause the normal or natural tion pH to be lower than 5.0 nor greater than 9.5. PWS 6.5 - 8.5 Swimming 6.5 - 8.5 F$WL Shell- fish Agr. Ind. 7.8 - 8.5 Saltwater 6.5 - 8.5 Freshwater 7.8 - 8.5 6.5 - 8.5 7.0 - 8.0 6.5 - 8.6 6.0 - 9.0 Fluctuation not more than 1.0 pH unit. 1. W. Walker River § Lake Topaz 6.5 - 8.5 at all times, but normally within the range of 7.0 - 8.0. 2. W. Fork Carson River - Same as (1). 3. Pacific Ocean, San Francisco Bay 6.5 - 8.5. 4. Pacific Ocean Coastal (Rincon Pt. - San Gabriel River) 7.0 - 8.5. 5, Pacific Ocean Coastal Waters 7.0 - 8.6. ------- Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii 29. Coastal Waters, Rincon Point to Point Arguello - 7.0-8.5. 30. East Fork Carson River - Same as (1) 31. East Walker River - Same as (1) 32. Goose Lake - 7.5-9.5. PWS FSWL Ind. 6.0-9.0 6.5-8.5 5.0-9.0 Fresh Water Class A PWS As naturally occurs Class B Swimming 6.5-8.0 Class C F§WL 6.5-8.0 Class D Nav. 6.0-9.0 Salt Water Class SA PWS Class SB Swim Class SC FSWL Class SD Nav. Alkalinity Acidity 6.8-8.5 6.8-8.5 6.8-8.5 6.5-8.5 20 mg/1 - 80 mg/1 as CaCOs 5 mg/1 as CaC03 6,0 - 8.5 - Fluctuation 1.0 in cases where pH may be, due to natural background or causes, outside limits; approval of the regulatory agency shall be secured prior to introducing such material in waters of the state. 6.0 - 8.5. pH-Units Not more than 1/2 unit difference *Class AA from natural conditions but-not lower than 8.0 nor higher than 8.5 from other than natural causes. (not lower than 7.0 for fresh tidal waters.) Not more than 1/2 unit difference Classes from natural conditions but not A, B lower than 7,0 nor higher than 8.5 from other than natural causes. Not less than 6.5 nor higher than Class B-2 8.5. *For explanation of use classifications, see EPA publication, "General Stream Use Designations". ------- Idaho 7.0 - 8.5* Bear River, Bear Lake, Cub River, Worm Creek § Malad River. 7.0 - 9.0* Main stem of Snake River, Palouse River, North Fork Teton River, Henry's River, [Falls River to Snake River) Raft River, Goose Creek, Salmon Falls Creek, Jarbridge § Bruneau Rivers. 6.5 - 8.0* Kootenai, Clark Fork,Movie, Coeur d'Alene, Priest § Spokane Rivers and Pend Oreille River, Pend Oreille Lake , Priest Lake § Coeur d'Alene Lake. * Variation not more than 0.5. Illinois General Standards: pH shall be within the range of 6.5 to 9.0 except for natural causes. Lake Michigan: pH shall be within 7.0 to 9.0 except for natural causes. ------- Indiana Aquatic Life: Iowa Kansas Kentucky pH: No values below 6.0 nor above 8.5, except daily fluctuations which exceed pH 8.5 and are correlated with photosynthetic activity, may be tolerated. However, any sudden drop below 6.0 or sudden rise above 8.5 not related to photo- synthesis indicates abnormal conditions which should be investigated immediately. Lake Michigan: Open Water Annual Median Daily Median Shore Water Daily Median Inner Harbor Annual Daily 8.1-8.4 7.7-9.0 7.0-9.0 8.0-8.5 7.5-9.0 Indiana Harbor Canal Annual Daily 7.5-8.5 7.0-9.0 Grand Calumet River - Little Calumet Annual Wolf Lake Daily 6.8 - 9.0 6.5 - 8.5 Arkansas River 6.5-9.0 7.0-9.0 - 6.5-9.0 Ind. 5.0-9.0 Aquatic Life 6.0-9.0 ------- Louisiana 6.0 - 8.5 Caddo Lake, Bl^ck Bayou Lake, Kelly Bayou | James Bayou, Quapaw & Cross Bayou,Cross Lake, BayousBodcau, Dorcheat, Little Corney, D'Arborne, DeL'Outre, Bartholomew; Pearl River (Zone 1), Bogue Chitto, Tangipahoa, Arrite, Vermillion (Zone 1), Bayou Teche, Mermentau (Zone 1), Calcasieu (Zones 1,2, 3), Sabine (Zones I, 2, 3, 41 Ouachita, Boeuf, Red, Little, Vermillion Rivers (Zone 2). 6.0 - 9.0 Bayou Macon. 6.5 - 9.0 Mississippi River (Zones 1,2), Bayou Lafourche (Zones 1,2), Atchafalaya River (Zones 1,2), Mermentau River (Zone 2). 6.5 - 9.5 Pearl River (Zone 2), Coastal Waters. Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota 6.0-8.5 6.7-8.5 5.0-9.0 Fresh Water PWS Swimming Fresh water - (A,B,C) Salt water (SA,SB,SC) For all classes except propagation of fish, other aquatic life and wild- life: (6. 0-8. 5) . As naturally occurs 6.5-8.0 6.5-8.0 Ind. 6.0-9.0 Salt Water 6.8-8.5 PWS and Agr. - No .variation of more than 0.5 pH unit from natural. All other uses 6.5-8.8. Fisheries and Recreation: 6,5-8.5 Class A 6.5-9.0 Class B-C Industrial Uses: 6.5-8.5 Class A 6,0-9.0 Class B fi.0-9.5 Class r Agricultural Uses 5.0-8.5 Class A 6.0-9.5 Class B 5.5-10.0 Class C ------- Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota PWS, Rec., FSWL, Agr., Ind. 6.0-8.5 1 1.0 Shellfish 6.5-8.5 1 1.0 Nav. 5.0-9.5 £ 1.5 6.5-8.5 6.5-9.0 7.0-8.5 Class In most areas Miss. River - Zone II and Missouri R. Intrastate waters A closed - PWS A open - PWS B - Food Processing C - Swimming D-l - F$WL Class D-2 - F5WL D-3 - F$WL E - Agr. F - Ind. No change from natural 6.5-8.5 6.5-9.5 6.5-9.5 6.5-8.5 6.D-9.D 6.5-9.5 6.5-9.5 6.5-9.5 6.5-9.0 ±1.0 from receiving streams Ohio 6.5-8.5 as a single value. Annual median range differs for each basin. 6.5-8.0 except when due to natural causes. 6,5-8.5 6.6-8.6 6.5-8.5 for all classes except "D", Agr. and Ind. use 6.0-9.0. Shall be normal for the waters in the area, which generally shall range between 6.0-8.5 except that swamp waters may have a low of 4.3. 6.0-9.0 - Red River of the North, the Boise de Sioux, parts of Sheyenne and Pembina Rivers. 7.0-9.0 - Missouri River,Lit tie Missouri, Yellowstone River, James River, Souris River and Des Lacs River. 5.0-9.0 - (Daily average value for aquatic life preferably between 6.5-8.5). ------- Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota 6.5-8.5 6.5-8.5 - All waters except Klamath River 7.0-9.0. Main stem of Columbia River - 7.0-8.5 Snake River - 7.0-9.0. Marine and Estuarine Waters - 7.0-8.5. 6.0-8.5 6.5-8.5 Depending on stream use. 7.0-9.0 (See Pennsylvania Federal-State standards) Fresh Water PWS Swimming Nav. Salt Water As naturally occurs 6.5-8.0 6.0-8.5 6.0-9,0 Shellfish/Bathing 6.8-8.5 All other 6.5-8.5 Fresh Water 6.0-8.0 except for swamp waters (5.0-8.0) Salt Water Shellfish Shall not vary more than 3/10 of pH unit above or below that of effluent - free waters in the same geographical area having a similar total salinity, alkalinity, and temperature. Bathing Same as above except variance limited to 1/2 a pH unit. Fishing Same as above - variance 1 pH unit Fish and Wildlife Propagation. A Cold water permanent 6.6-8.6 B Cold water marginal 6.5-8.6 C Warm water permanent 6.5-8.8 D Warm water semi-permanent 6.3-9.0 E Warm water marginal 6.0-9.3 All other uses - 6.0-9.0 ------- Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Fish and Aquatic Life - 6.5-8.5 (pH) (all classes) . . . and shall not fluctuate more than 1.0 unit in this range over a period of 24 hours. All other classes - 6.0-9.0 Generally 6.5-8.5, but specific limits established for each stream (too numerous to list);maximum limits 5.0-9.0. 6.5-8.5 +.0.5 except for industrial use (6.5-9.0) Class A - PWS as naturally occurs B - Swimming 6.5-8.0 C - F5WL 6.0-8.5 D - !nd. 6.0-9.0 6.0-8.5 in most areas. 6.0-9.0 in Classes IV, V, VI (mountainous zone, put and take trout waters, natural trout waters.) Shellfish - 6.0-8.0 All uses (AA, A, R,) except boating, industrial Fresh water - 6.5-8.5 Marine water- 7.8-8.5 Class C Fresh water - 6.0-9.0 Marine water- 7.0-9.0 6.0-8.5 except streams with acid mine drainage (5,5 lower limit.) 6.0-9.0 except where waters have pH naturally occurring less than 6.5 or higher than 8.5. Wastes of other than natural origin shall not affect the pH of the receiving water beyond the following limits: A. On those streams where water quality data are inadequate the range for pH shall be 6.5 to 8.5. B. On those streams where water quality data are adequate, a pH range within natural variations can be established in the supplementary standards. ------- District of Columbia North Platte River Stretch I - 6.5-8.5 II- 7.0-8.0 III- 7.5-8.5 Tongue River Wind Bighorn River Green River 6.0-8.5 7.0-8.5 7.0-8.5 6.5-8.5 Guam Puerto Rico Virgin Islands PWS Within 0.1 pH unit of natural Recreation - 7.0-8.3 F§WL Prppagation - within 0.1 pH unit of natural Navigation - 7.0-8.5 6.8-8.5 Class A - Preservation of natural phenonema no change Class B - F§WL - 7.0-8.5 Class C - Harbors - 6,5-8,5 10 ------- |