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WATER QUALITY STANDARDS CRITERIA DIGEST
A COMPILATION OF FEDE RAL/STATE CRITERIA ON
-DISSOLVED OXYGEN-
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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 dissolved
oxygen criteria.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 classification (recreation, drinking water, fish
and wildlife propagation, industrial, or agricultural) to be assigned to the inter-
state water; criteria to protect those uses; implementation plan (for needed in-
dustrial-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 specificationsof 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,
B.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.
It is necessary for waters classified for the protection and propagation
of fish and wildlife to contain sufficient Dissolved Oxygen to support local biota,
taking into consideration the requirements of the desirable aquatic populations
at all life-development stages. DO criteria recommendations are made to assure
that the oxygen does not fall below certain minimum levels, which vary depending
upon natural conditions. In effect, DO standards limit amounts of biodegradable
matter which can be artificially induced in the water to tolerable, aquatic life-
supportive levels.
Reduction in DO can have such detrimental effects as excess plant growth
(algal blooms and, in extreme cases, eutrophy); taste and odor problems; and can
otherwise make the water less suitable for fish and wildlife, domestic, and
recreational uses.
Water Quality Criteria, used by EPA in evaluating the State standards,
recommends a minimum DO concentration for freshwater biota of 5 mg/1 (milligrams
per liter) for warmwater species (declining to a lower limit of 4 mg/1 "for short
periods of time, provided that the water quality is favorable in all other respects1:');
and for coldwater biota recommends no less than 5-6 mg/1 (7 mg/1 at spawning times).
Stringent limitations (6 mg/1) are recommended for small inland lakes or large lakes
which have sufficient or no mixing of constituent layers. For saltwater organisms
DO minimum levels of 5 mg/1 are recommended in the open coastal waters, and 4 mg/1
in the estuarine and tidal tributaries, excepting waters with naturally depressed DO.
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
mg/1 milligrams per liter
ppm parts per million
min. minimum
sat. saturation
ave. average
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DISSOLVED OXYGEN CRITERIA (Minimrai Level)
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Cold Water
Fishery
Warm Water
Fishery
4 mg/1*
Miscellaneous
Shellfish-4 mg/1*
Class A Drinking Water Supply
"Greater than 75% saturation."
Class B Drinking Water Supply and Food Processing
^'Greater than 60? saturation."
Class C Bathing, Swimming, Recreation
"Greater than 5 mg/1."
Class D Growth and Propagation of Fish and Other Aquatic Life,
Including Waterfowl,Furbearers, and Other Aquatic and SennT7
Aquatic Life.
"Greater than 6 mg/1 in Salt Water Minimum of 7 mg/1 in
fresh water."
Class E Shellfish Growth and Propagation (Natural and
Commerical Growing Areas)
Greater than six (6) mg/1 saturation in the larval stage.
Greater than five (5) mg/1 in the adult stage.
Class F Agricultural Water Supply, including Irrigation,
Stock Watering and Truck Fanning
"Greater than 3 mg/1."
Class G Industrial Water Supply (other than Food Processing)
"Greater than 5 mg/1 for surface water.Not limiting
except as it affects other parameters."
6 mg/1
5 mg/1
6 mg/1
4 mg/1 or 50%
saturation
Appropriate criteria were set for each individual body of
water. The following is a summary of these criteria and
does not reflect all of the variations found therein.
Freshwater streams and lakes - a min. of 6 and 7 mg/1 with
an additional limit of 80 to 851 sat. for some streams.
A min. of 90% sat. for Lake Tahoe.
*Not approved
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State
Cold Water
Fishery
Warm Water
Fishery
Miscellaneous
California (Cont.) Estuarine waters - a min. of 5 rag/1 for most waters; min, of
6 and 7 mg/1 for other waters.
Coastal waters - a min. of 5 mg/1 with additional limits on
the annual mean ave. which ranges from 6 to 7 mg/1.
Colorado
Connecticut
6 mg/1
5 mg/1
PWS - 4 mg/1
Industrial - 3 mg/1
** Class A - 751 of saturation, 16 hours a day; 5 mg/1 at
any time.
Class B - Same as Class A.
Class C - Not less than 5 mg/1 for more than 6 hours during
any 24-hour period, at no time less than 4 mg/1.
For cold water fishery, not less than 5 mg/1 at
any time.
Class D - Minimum 2 mg/1.
SA
SB
SC
SD
Delaware
District of
Coulmbia
Not less than 6.0 mg/1
Not less than 5.0 mg/1
Same as C
Same as D
501 saturation
or 4 mg/1 except
Delaware River
from Pa. line to
Liston Point:
"Daily ave. 6.5
in entire zone.
Daily ave. 3.5
at River Mile
78.8; 4.5 at R.M.
70 and 6.0 at R.M.
59.5. Between 4/1
to 6.15 and 9/16
to 12/31.
4.0 mg/1 min.
5.0 mg/1 daily
ave.
Atlantic Ocean-
natural Delaware
Bay-daily ave. of
6 mg/1. Other
coastal waters-
50% saturation
or 4 mg/1.
Chesapeake and
Delaware Canal-
6.0 min.
Florida
D.O. selectively
assigned 3.0 mg/1
min., 4.0 mg/1
daily ave. to
Anacostia River
and one specific
zone of the Potomac
River.
General - 4.0 ppm. Open ocean - 5.0 ppm. Streams in "Special
Stream classification" listing (Section 28-5.21)-5.0 ppm.
**For explanation of use classifications, see EPA publication, "General
Stream Use Designations."
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State
Georgia
Guam
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Cold
Fishery
Warm Water
Fishery
5 mg/1 4 mg/1
(Administrator has requested revision)
6 mg/1
Miscellaneous
Industrial and
Navigation - 2.5 mg/1.
PWS-6 mg/1.Saline
Waters - 6 mg/1.
Coastal Waters -
**Class AA - 6 mg/1
Class A - 5 mg/1
Class B - 4.5 mg/1
limited to docking
areas.
Fresh waters used for
fish propagation -
5 mg/1.
75% saturation
at seasonal low;
100% of satura-
tion in spawning
areas during
spawning, hatch-
ing and fry states
of salmonid fishes.
General Standards. DO shall not be less than 6.0 mg/1 during at
least 16 hours of any 24 hour period, not less than 5.0 mg/1 at
any time.
Lake Michigan. DO shall not be less than 90% of saturation
except due to natural causes.
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
6 mg/1 minimum
7 mg/1 minimum
during spawn-
ing.
7 mg/1-16 hrs.
5 mg/1-any time.
6.0 mg/1 min.
7.0 mg/1 min.
during spawn-
ing.
S mg/1-daily ave.
per day.
4 mg/1- any time,
5 mg/1-16 hrs.
4 mg/l-any time.
5 mg/1
5 mg/1-daily ave.
4 mg/1-min.
501 saturation*
60-75% saturation
in some waters.
Missouri R.-5 mg/1
Most waters-5 mg/1
Some 4 mg/1.
**For explanation of use classifications, see EPA publication, "General Stream
Use Designations."
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Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Cold Water
Fishery
Warm Water
Fishery
Miscellaneous
** Class A - Not less than 751 saturation.
Class B - Not less than 75% saturation.
Class B£- Not less than 601 saturation, and not less than 5 ppm.
Class C - Not less than 5 ppm for trout and salmon waters;
4 ppm for others.
Class D - Not less than 2 ppm.
Tidal or Marine Waters:
SA - Not less than 6
SBi- Not less than 6
SB2- Not less than 6
SC - Not less than 5
SD - Not less than 3
5 mg/1 min.
6 mg/1 monthly
ave.
5 mg/1
6 mg/1
7 mg/1, Oct.l
through May 31.
5 mg/1, other
times.
6 mg/1
ppm.
ppm.
ppm.
ppm.
ppm.
4 mg/1 min.
5 mg/1 monthly
ave.
5 mg/1-16 hrs.
per day.
3 mg/l-any time.
5 mg/1-intolerant
species.
4 mg/1-tolerant
species.
Industrial-4 mg/1.
Coastal-not less than
6.5 mg/1.
Industrial-2 mg/1
Navigation.
1) Interstate waters-
sufficient to pre-
vent nuisance.
2) Intrastate waters-
average 2.5 mg/1,
no less than 2.
Intolerant(Class 2(B)):6 mg/1,4/1-5/31;
5 mg/1 other times.
Tolerant (Class 2(Q): 5 mg/1 4/1-5/31;
3 mg/1 other times.
4 mg/1 *
PWS, Shellfishing and
Recreation-4mg/l*
Agricultural and
industrial water
supply-3 mg/1.
Navigation and utility
use-3 mg/1.
5 mg/1 except
6 mg/1-lakes and
reservoirs.
*Not approved
**For explanation of use classifications, see EPA publication, "General Stream
USB. Designations."
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Cold Water
Fishery
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
7 mg/1
6 mg/1
6 mg/1
(D-l)
(D-2)
5.0-8.0 mg/1,
varies with
stream and
season.
** Class B - near
saturation.
Class C - 5
rag/1.
Trout Production
Waters.
Not less than
7.0 mg/1 at any
time.
Trout Maintenance
Water.
Daily ave. not less
than 6.0 mg/1. Not
less than 5.0 mg/1
at any time.
Trout Maintenance
Lakes.
Warm Water
Fishery
5 mg/1 CD-3)
5 mg/1
Miscellaneous
Class B - near
saturation
Class C - 5
mg/1.
Daily ave. of
5.0 mg/1. Not
less than 4.0
mg/1 at any
time.
Class D-2 ppm.
Tidal Waters.
Fish maintenance
(TW-2).
Not less than 4 mg/1 at
any time. TW-3 nav.
not less than 3.0
mg/1 at any time.
Ocean Waters.
Not less than 5.0 mg/1
at any time.
Daily average not
less than 6.0 mg/1.
Not less than 5.0
mg/1 at anytime.
In eutrophic lakes
when stratification
is present, not less
than 4.0 mg/1 in or
above the thermocline
where water temperatures
are below 72 degrees F.
At depths where the water
is 72 degrees F. or above,
daily ave. not less than
6.0 mg/1 and not less
than 5.0 mg/1.
**For explanation of use classifications, see EPA publication,
Use Designations."
'General Stream
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State
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Cold Water
Fishery
501 sat.;
6 mg/1 min.
5 mg/1
6 mg/1 min.
natural trout
waters.
5 mg/1 min.
put § take
trout waters.
Criteria based on
"fish species
native to the
area"-5 mg/1, or
5 mg/1-16 hrs.
per day and 3 mg/1
any time, by stream.
Warm Water
Fishery
50% sat.;
5 mg/1 min.
4 mg/1
5 mg/1 daily
ave.
4 mg/1 min.
Miscellaneous
Agricultural-Smg/l
N.Y. Harbor--2.5 mg/1
4.0 mg/1, swamp waters.
5.0 mg/1, tidal salt
waters.
6 mg/1
** Aquatic Life A-
5 mg/1-16 hrs.
per day, 3 mg/1
any time*
Aquatic Life B-
3 mg/l-ave.,2 mg/1
min. (applied only
where no higher
levels can be
attained with treat-
ment.)
4 mg/1
75% saturation
at seasonal low
or 5-7 mg/1, by
stream; 95% sat.
in spawning areas
during spawning,
hatching and fry
development.
Min. daily ave-
6 mg/1 no value
less than 5 mg/1.
Smallmouth bass-
5 mg/1
all waters-4 mg/1
Marine-not less than
saturation
Estuarine-6 mg/1
Min. daily ave-
5 mg/1, no value
less than 4 mg/1.
Delaware Estuary-
varies with location
and season. Ave.
3.5 and 6.5 mg/1.
**For explanation of use classifications, see EPA publication, "General Stream
Use Designations."
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State
Puerto Rico
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Cold Water
Fishery
Warm Water
Fishery
5 mg/1
Miscellaneous
**
Class A § B: 75% saturation, 16 hours/day S mg/1 at
any time.
Class C: Minimum 5 mg/1 any time.
Class D: Minimum of 2 mg/1 at any time.
SA: Not less than 6.0 mg/1 at any time.
SB: Not less than 5.0 mg/1 at any time.
SC: Not less than 5 mg/1 during at least 16 hours
of any 24 hour period nor less than 4 mg/1
at any time.
SD: Not less than 2 mg/1 at any time.
*t:iass A (swimming) - 5.0 mg/1 minimum, 4.0 mg/1 average
in swamp waters. Class B - 5.0 mg/1 daily average, 4.0
mg/1 average in swamp waters. (Class C is not assigned to
interstate streams.) Tidal salt waters - 5.0 mg/1 minimum.
classes SA and SB, 4.0 mg/1 minimum, Class SC.
6 mg/1 or 5 mg/1
by stream
5 mg/1
Big Stone and
Trauryse Lakes
Min. 6 mg/1
April and May.
Industrial Water S., Recreation, ferigation, Livestock Watering §
Wildlife 5 Navigation:
There shall always be sufficient dissolved oxygen present to
prevent odors of decomposition and other offensive conditions."
Fish § Aquatic Life: The dissolved oxygen shall be maintained at
5.0 mg/1 except in limited sections of the stream receiving trentel
effluents. In these limited sections, a minimum of 3.0 mg/1 dissolved
oxygen will be allowed. The DO content shall be measured at mid-
depth in waters having a total depth of ten (10) feet car less and
at a de.'tj pf S feet of water Jjawing a total depth of greater than
10 feet. A minimum dissolved oxygen content of 6.0 mg/1 shall be
maintained in recognized trout streams.
4 to 6 mg/1, by
stream.
6 mg/1
5.5 mg/1
Houston Ship Channel
2 mg/1.
Tidal 3 to 7 rag/1, by
stream.
PWS - B.O.D. - not
more than 5 mg/1
201 of the time -
not more than 10 mg/1
10% of the time.
**Type I Waters
Streams and rivers sustaining natural populations of brook
trout, salmon, rainbow trout and brown trout. Dissolved
oxygen content of these waters at the near spawning areas
**For explanation of use classifications, see EPA pub., "General Stream Use Designations"
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State
Vermont (cont.)
Cold Water
Fishery
Virginia
Warm Water
Fishery
Miscellaneous
shall not be less than 7 mg/1, and not less than 6 mg/1 in
non-spawning areas, and normal seasonal, daily and diurnal
variations above these limits will be maintained.
Type II Waters
"Streams and rivers containing mixed populations of such
fish as rainbow trout, brown trout, and smallmouth bass.
Dissolved oxygen shall not be less than 6 mg/1 and normal
seasonal, daily and diurnal variations above these limits
will be maintained.
Type III Waters
Streams and rivers having mixed populations of such warm
water species of fish as smallmouth bass, perch, and bluegills,
etc. Dissolved oxygen shall not be less than 5 mg/1 and normal
seasonal, daily and diurnal variations above these limits will
be maintained.
e IV Waters
Virgin Islands
Oligotrophic lakes, ponds and reservoirs, natural or
artificial, supporting natural populations of brook trout,
salmon, lake trout and other associate species. Dissolved
oxygen levels for this class shall not fall below 6 mg/1
due to the addition of oxygen-demanding wastes and other
materials. Normal seasonal, daily and diurnal variations
above 6 mg/1 will be maintained.
Type V Waters
~Lakes, ponds and reservoirs, natural or artificial or
portions thereof, not designated as Type IV. Dissolved
oxygen levels for this class shall not fall below 4 mg/1
due to the addition of oxygen-demanding wastes and other
materials.
'Class I: Open Ocean (Seaside of the land mass.) Mo criteria.
Class II: Estuarine (Tidal water - Coastal zone to fall line.)
5 mg/1 daily average.
Class III: Free flowing streams, 5 mg/1 daily average.
Class IV: Mountainous zone, 5.0 mg/1 daily average.
Class V: Put and Take trout waters, 6.0 mg/1 daily average.
Class VI: Natural trout waters, 7.0 mg/1 daily average.
Marine Life - 5.5 mg/1
Harbors - 5 mg/1
** For explanation of use classifications, see EPA publication," General Stream Use
Designations."
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Cold Water Warm Water
State Fishery Fishery Miscellaneous
Washington **Class AA - 9.5 mg/1 Marine Water -
Class A - 8.0 mg/1 Class AA-7.0 mg/1
Class B - 6.5 mg/1 or 701 Class A-6.0 mg/1
saturation, whichever is Class B-5.0 mg/1 or
greater. 70$ saturation,
Class C - 5,0 mg/1 or 501 whichever is greater.
saturation, whichever is Class C-4.0 mg/1 or
greater. 50% saturation,
whichever is greater.
West Virginia Standards establish a statewide minimum of 3.0 ppm at the
point of maximum oxygen depletion but also establish specific
criteria for each major river basin. The specific basin
criteria are:
(1) 5.0 ppm minimum - Potomac River and branches,
Kanawha River (zone 1), Bluestone River, (future),
East River, New River, Bluestone Reservoir, Gauley
River, Big Sandy River, Tug Fork, Guyandotte River,
Ohio River (future), Ohio River tributaries,
Monogahela River, West Fork River, Tygart Valley River,
Cheat River, Youghiogheny River.
(2) 5.0 ppm minimum during 16 hr. per day, 4*0 ppm
minimum. Ohio River (present.)
(3) 3.0 ppm present, 4.0 ppm future - Kenawha River
(zone 2), Bluestone River.
(4) 4.0 ppm present, 5.0 ppm future - Bluestone Reservoir.
(5) 5.0 ppm - trout streams.
Present uses and criteria are those that now exist or will
for a maximum of 5 years. Future uses an* criteria are those
which will exist after abatement is effected.
Wisconsin 5 mg/1 - 16 hours Fish Life - 801
per day. saturation or 5 mg/1.
4 mg/1 any time.
Wyoming 6 mg/1 6 mg/1
**For explanation of use classifications, see EPA publication, "General Stream
Use Designations."
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