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WATER QUALITY STANDARDS CRITERIA DIGEST
A COMPILATION OF FEDERAL/STATE CRITERIA ON
- ACIDITY/ ALKALINITY-
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
WASHINGTON, D.C.
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INTRODUCTION
This digest was compiled in order to provide general information to the
public as well as to Federal, State, and local officials. It contains excerpts
from the individual Federal-State water quality standards establishing • 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:
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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."
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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.
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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".
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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.
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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
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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
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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).
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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
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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.
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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
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