V uj CD WATER QUALITY STANDARDS CRITERIA DIGEST A COMPILATION OF FEDE RAL/STATE CRITERIA ON -DISSOLVED OXYGEN- ifj "11 i'M 11 IN iH in in iw 111 is.iit r y(r['H.IfU!M -i M' j, in, nji'j,j'f i||i'!i liiwii%,. 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 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- ------- 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 ------- 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 ------- 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." ------- 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." ------- 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." ------- 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 ------- 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." ------- 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" ------- 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." ------- 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." ------- |