^
                                   ^ PRO^°
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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