BACTERIAL WATER QUALITY STANDARDS FOR RECREATIONAL WATERS (FRESHWATER AND MARINE WATERS) STATUS REPORT June 2003 ------- BACTERIAL WATER QUALITY STANDARDS FOR RECREATIONAL WATERS (FRESHWATER AND MARINE WATERS) STATUS REPORT June 2003 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water (4305T) 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20460 EPA-823-R-03-008 ------- Contents Introduction 1 Water Quality Standards Background 3 EPA Criteria for Bathing Freshwater 4 Marine Water 4 Acknowledgments 5 Bacterial Water Quality Standards - Summary Information Summary of Bacterial Water Quality Standards for States, Tribes, and Territories (By EPA Region) .... 6 Narrative Summary 9 Detailed Overview Region 1 10 Connecticut 10 Maine 10 Massachusetts 10 New Hampshire 11 Rhode Island 11 Vermont 11 Region 2 12 New Jersey 12 New York 12 Puerto Rico 13 Virgin Islands 13 Region 3 14 Delaware 14 District of Columbia 14 Maryland 14 Pennsylvania 14 Virginia , 14 West Virginia 14 Region 4 15 Alabama 15 Florida 15 Georgia 15 Kentucky 15 Mississippi 15 North Carolina 15 South Carolina 16 Tennessee 16 Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida 16 Seminole Tribe of Florida 16 Region 5 16 Illinois 16 Indiana 16 Michigan 16 Minnesota 17 Ohio 17 Wisconsin 17 Fond du Lac Band of the Chippewa Tribe 17 Sokaogon Chippewa Community of the Mole Lake Band of Chippewa Indians 17 ii ------- Region 6 18 Arkansas 18 Louisiana 18 New Mexico 18 Oklahoma 18 Texas 18 Pueblo of Acoma 19 Pueblo of Isleta 19 Pueblo of Nambe 19 Pueblo of Picuris 19 Pueblo of Pojoaque 19 Pueblo of Sandia 19 Pueblo of San Juan 19 Pueblo of Santa Clara 20 Pueblo of Tesuque 20 Region 7 20 Iowa 20 Kansas 20 Missouri 20 Nebraska 20 Region 8 21 Utah 21 Wyoming 21 Colorado 21 Montana 21 North Dakota 22 South Dakota 22 Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation 22 Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation 22 Region 9 23 Arizona 23 California 23 Hawaii 24 Nevada 25 American Samoa 25 Common wealth of the Northern Mariana Islands 25 Guam 26 Hoopa Valley Tribe 26 White Mountain Apache Tribe 26 Region 10 26 Alaska 26 Idaho 26 Oregon 27 Washington 27 Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation 27 Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation 28 Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation 28 Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation 28 Puyallup Tribe of the Puyallup Reservation 28 Spokane Tribe 28 ill ------- Introduction In 1997, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency established the Beaches Environmental Assessment, and Coastal and Health (BEACH) Program. The goal of the BEACH program is to reduce risks to human health caused by exposure to pathogens in recreational waters. Surveys and ongoing scientific studies continue to document the presence of, or the potential for, disease- carrying bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens present in local beach water, primarily from sewage and stormwater runoff. Humans can be exposed to pathogens in recreational waters through ingestion, inhalation, and body contact. The BEACH Program focuses on the following five areas to improve public health and environmental protection programs for beach goers, and to provide the public with information about the quality of their beach water: Strengthening beach standards and testing Providing faster laboratory test methods Predicting pollution Investing in health and methods research Informing the public The Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act of 2000 authorized EPA to award grants for development and implementation of programs to notify the public of the potential exposure to disease-causing microorganisms in coastal recreation waters. Program development and implementation grants to eligible States, Territories, Tribes, and local governments support microbiological testing and monitoring of coastal recreation waters, including the Great Lakes, that are adjacent to beaches or similar points of access used by the public. The BEACH Act also amended Section 303 of the Clean Water Act to require by April 10,2004 that coastal and Great Lakes states adopt EPA's published indicators for pathogens with criteria as protective as those published by EPA, in their water quality standards. EPA is working with states and tribes to assist them in adopting water quality criteria for EPA's published pathogen indicators, E. coli and/or enterococcus bacteria, in their water quality standards. The Agency is also working with states, tribes, and local governments to strengthen local beach health monitoring efforts and procedures to achieve these standards. EPA assistance includes awarding grants for beach monitoring and public notification as well as providing technical assistance and training. This document, Bacterial Water Quality Standards for Recreational Waters (Freshwater and Marine Waters) - Status Report provides a brief overview of the bacterial water quality standards that have been adopted by states for their marine and fresh recreational waters in the United States. This report is based on consultations with EPA water quality standards coordinators. The report is accurate as of September 2002; however, there may be revisions to standards that are not reflected in this report. EPA will update the report periodically to reflect new information. The information in the report is presented in summary format for both states/territories and tribes. The summary is organized first by EPA region, and then by state, territory, and tribe within each region. ------- For the precise regulatory language applicable to a particular state, the reader should consult the water quality standards of the state. Copies of state water quality standards may be obtained from the state's water quality management agency or its equivalent (EPA houses a repository of state, tribal, and territorial water quality standards on its website at http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/standards/wqslibrary/). Readers should also note that standards in this report may not be the only guidelines or standards in effect for recreational waters in a particular location. It is not uncommon for local health agencies to develop and adopt site-specific guidelines as part of their public health codes. One should consult the appropriate local health agency to obtain detailed information. EPA's BEACH Program is improving public access to information about the quality of the water at their beaches and health risks associated with swimming in those waters. More information about water quality at our nation's beaches, local protection programs, and other beach-related programs is available on EPA's "Beach Watch" internet website at http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/beaches/. ------- Water Quality Standards Background In response to widespread public concern about the condition of our nation's waters, the United States Congress enacted landmark legislation in 1972. This statute, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 (referred to as the Clean Water Act of 1972, or CWA), expanded and built upon existing laws designed to control and prevent water pollution. Successive amendments to the 1972 CWA (the Clean Water Act of 1977 and the Water Quality Act of 1987) have continued to strengthen the law to better protect our nation's waters. Water quality standards are the cornerstone of a state's water quality management program. States, territories, and Indian tribes set water quality standards for waters within their jurisdictions. Water quality standards define a use for a waterbody and describe the specific water quality criteria to achieve that use. The water quality standards also contain antidegradation policies to protect existing water quality. These are the goals by which success is ultimately gauged for a given waterbody or watershed. The water quality standards program is administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Congress has mandated that EPA is responsible for providing water quality criteria recommendations; approving state-adopted standards for waters of the United States; evaluating adherence to the standards; and overseeing enforcement of standards compliance. Guidance for the development of standards by individual states, tribes, and territories is contained in the EPA documents Water Quality Standards Handbook, Second Edition (1983) and Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Bacteria (1986). Fecal bacteria have been used as an indicator of the possible presence of pathogens in surface waters and the risk of disease, based on epidemiological evidence of gastrointestinal disorders from ingestion of contaminated surface water or raw shellfish. Contact with contaminated water can lead to ear or skin infections, and inhalation of contaminated water can cause respiratory diseases. The pathogens responsible for these diseases can be bacteria, viruses, protozoans, fungi, or parasites that live in the gastrointestinal tract and are shed in the feces of warm-blooded animals. However, because of the difficulties in analyzing for and detecting the many possible pathogens or parasites, concentrations of fecal bacteria, including fecal conforms, enterococci, and Escherichia coli, are used as the primary indicators of fecal contamination. The latter two indicators are considered to have a higher degree of association with outbreaks of certain diseases than fecal coliforms and were recommended as the basis for bacterial water quality standards in the 1986 Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Bacteria document (both for fresh waters, enterococci for marine waters). The standards are defined as a concentration of the indicator above which the health risk from waterborne disease is unacceptably high. Prior to the 1986 revision to the National criterion, there were recommendations in the report of the National Technical Advisory Committee to the Secretary of the Interior, Water Quality Criteria (1967) and by EPA in Quality Criteria for Water (1976). Both of these documents were based on fecal coliforms and recommended that maximum densities not exceed geometric means of 200 organisms per 100 ml in recreational waters. ------- The 1986 criteria statement for bacteriological criteria follows: EPA Criteria for Bathing (Full Body Contact) Recreational Waters Freshwater Based on a statistically sufficient number of samples (generally not less than 5 samples equally spaced over a 30-day period), the geometric mean of the indicated bacterial densities should not exceed one or the other of the following:' £ co/i 126 per 100 ml; or Enterococci 33 per 100 ml. No sample should exceed a one sided confidence limit (C.L.) calculated using the following as guidance: Designated bathing beach 75% C.L. Moderate use for bathing 82% C.L. Light use for bathing 90% C.L. Infrequent use for bathing 95% C.L. based on a site-specific log standard deviation, or if site data are insufficient to establish a log standard deviation, then using 0.4 as the log standard deviation for both indicators. Marine Water Based on a statistically sufficient number of samples (generally not less than 5 samples equally spaced over a 30-day period), the geometric mean of the enterococci densities should not exceed 35 per 100 ml. No sample should exceed a one sided confidence limit using the following as guidance: Designated bathing beach 75% C.L. Moderate use for bathing 82% C.L. Light use for bathing 90% C.L. Infrequent use for bathing 95% C.L. based on a site-specific log standard deviation, or if site data are insufficient to establish a log standard deviation, then using 0.7 as the log standard deviation. 'Only one indicator should be used. The regulatory agency should select the appropriate indicator for its conditions. ------- Acknowledgments This report is an update of the 1997 Bacterial Water Quality Standards Report and was compiled by Susan Emerson in the Office of Science and Technology. To ensure the completeness and accuracy of this overview, the following EPA Regional Water Quality Standards Coordinators were consulted: Region 1: Matt Liebman, Office of Ecosystem Protection Boston, MA Region 2: Wayne Jackson, Division of Environmental Planning and Protection New York, NY Region 3: Cheryl Atkinson, Water Protection Division Philadelphia, PA Region 4: Fritz Wagener, Water Management Division Atlanta, GA Region 5: Holly Wirick, Water Division Chicago, IL Region 6: Russell Nelson, Water Quality Protection Division Dallas, TX Region 7: Larry Shepard, Water, Wetlands and Pesticides Division Kansas City, KS Region 8: Dave Moon, Office of Ecosystem Protection and Remediation Denver, CO Region 9: Phil Woods, Water Division San Francisco, CA Region 10: Marcia Lagerloef, Office of Water Seattle, WA ------- Bacterial Water Quality Standards - Summary Information Summary of Bacterial Water Quality Standards for States, Tribes, and Territories (By EPA Region) State /Tribe /Territory Fres Region 1 Criteria" hwater Marine Water Connecticut ' EN/FC/TC EN Maine EC Massachusetts FC New Hampshire EC EN FC EN Rhode Island FC/TC FC/TC Vermont EC Region 3 Delaware EN District of Columbia FC EN * Maryland EC/EN/FC EN/FC Pennsylvania FC Virginia EC/FC EN/FC West Virginia FC State / Tribe /Territory Region 2 New Jersey New York Puerto Rico Virgin Islands Region 4 Alabama Florida Georgia Kentucky Mississippi North Carolina South Carolina Tennessee Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida Seminole Tribe of Florida Criteria" Freshwater [Marine Water EN/FC FC/TC FC/TC FC FC FC FC FC FC FC EC/FC FC/TC FC EN/FC FC/TC EN/FC/TC FC FC FC FC * FC FC FC 1 FC = fecal coliforms; TC = total coliforms; EN = enterococci; EC = Escherichia coli. 2 Many jurisdictions use both the 1986 indicator criteria and fecal coliforms; some continue to use total coliforms. Even if a state has the authority to use the 1986 indicators, it may use another indicator at its discretion ------- Summary of Bacterial Water Quality Standards for States, Tribes, and Territories (By EPA Region) State / Tribe / Territory Criteria1-1 Freshwater | Marine Water Region 5 Illinois FC * Indiana EC Michigan EC/FC Minnesota FC Ohio EC/FC Wisconsin FC Fond du Lac Band of the Chippewa Tribe EC Sokaogon Chippewa Community of the Mole Lake EC/EN Band of Chippewa Indians State / Tribe / Territory Criteria1'1 Freshwater Marine Water Region 6 Arkansas FC Louisiana FC FC New Mexico FC * Oklahoma EC/EN/FC Texas EC/EN/FC EN/FC Pueblo of Acoma EC/EN/FC Pueblo of Isleta EC/FC Pueblo of Nambe FC Pueblo of Picuris EC/FC Pueblo of Pojoaque EC/FC Pueblo of Sandia FC Pueblo of San Juan EC/FC Pueblo of Santa Clara FC Pueblo of Tesuque FC FC = fecal coliforms; TC = total coliforms; EN = enterococci; EC = Escherichia colt. 2 Many jurisdictions use both the 1986 indicator criteria and fecal colifbrms; some continue to use total coliforms. Even if a state has the authority to use the 1986 indicators, it may use another indicator at its discretion. ------- Summary of Bacterial Water Quality Standards for States, Tribes, and Territories (By EPA Region) State /Tribe /Territory Fres Region 7 Iowa FC Kansas FC Missouri FC Nebraska FC Criteria" iwater Marine Water Region 9 Arizona EC California3 EC/EN/FC/TC EN/FC/TC Hawaii FC EN Nevada EC/FC American Samoa FC EN Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands EC/EN/FC FC/EN Guam EC/EN EN White Mountain Apache Tribe of the Fort Apache EC/FC Reservation Hoopa Valley Tribe EC/EN State / Tribe /Territory Criteria" Freshwater Marine Water Region 8 Colorado EC/FC Montana FC North Dakota FC South Dakota FC Utah FC/TC Wyoming FC Assiniboine and S ioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Res. EC/FC Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes of the FC/TC Flathead Reservation Region 10 Alaska FC FC Idaho EC Oregon EC FC Washington FC FC Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation FC FC Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation EN Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation EC Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation EC Puyallup Tribe of the Puyallup Reservation FC FC Spokane Tribe EC 1 FC = fecal coliforms; TC = total coliforms; EN = enterococci; EC = Escherichia coli. 1 Many jurisdictions use both the 1986 indicator criteria and fecal coliforms; some continue to use total coliforms. 3 California has 9 Regional Boards; some use the 1986 indicator criteria, whereas some use fecal eoliform and total coliform entirely or for other purposes. ------- Narrative Summary Eighteen states, twelve tribes, and two territories have adopted an E. coli standard for freshwaters: States: Tribes: Territories: Arizona Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes Commonwealth of the California ' of the Fort Peck Reservation Northern Mariana Islands Colorado Confederated Tribes of the Guam Idaho Umatilla Reservation Illinois Confederated Tribes of the Indiana Warm Springs Reservation Maine Fond du Lac Band of the Maryland Chippewa Tribe Michigan Hoopa Valley Tribe Nevada Pueblo of Acoma New Hampshire Pueblo of Isleta Ohio Pueblo of Picuris Oklahoma Pueblo of Pojoaque Oregon Pueblo of San Juan Tennessee Spokane Tribe Texas White Mountain Apache Tribe Vermont of the Fort Apache Virginia Reservation Six states, three tribes, and two territories use enterococci as a standard for freshwaters: States: Tribes: Territories: California Confederated Tribes of the Commonwealth of the Connecticut Colville Reservation Northern Mariana Islands Delaware Hoopa Valley Tribe Guam Maryland Pueblo of Acoma New Jersey Oklahoma Nine states and four territories use enterococci as a standard for marine waters: States: Territories: California American Samoa Connecticut Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Delaware Islands Hawaii Guam Maine Puerto Rico Maryland New Hampshire New Jersey Texas Virginia ------- Bacterial Water Quality Standards - Detailed Overview Bacterial Water Quality Standards by EPA Region Region State Class Freshwater Primary Secondary Marine Primary Secondary Region 1 Connecticut Class AA 100TC ....»......»««.,,,,....<,<,<,<,.,.,...4 4--**«»»*»»»y ............ P,....... ............IF* *,.-......»..... No single sample to exceed 500 TC. Class AA waters are not meant for contact recreation. Class A/SA 3 3 EN 100I9 33 ?N No single sample may exceed 61 EN. TC value is monthly moving average. No more than 10% of TC samples may exceed 500. Class B/SB 33 EN 200.F.C. 33EN No single sample may exceed 61 EN. No more than 10% of FC single samples may exceed 400. Comments: EC criteria do not apply to all primary contact recreation waters, only established bathing waters. Maine Class AA & A/SA (see note) (see note) Note: Bacteria content may be as naturally occurs. Class B/SB 64 EC 8 EN For season May 15-September 30. No Class B sample may exceed 427 EC. No Class SB sample may exceed 54 EN. Class C/SC 142 EC HEN For season May 15-September 30. No Class C sample may exceed 949 EC. No Class SC sample may exceed 94 EN. Massachusetts Class A/SA 20 FC 200 FC Primary freshwater value based on arithmetic mean. No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 100 for freshwater and 400 for marine waters, respectively. Marine value may be applied seasonally. Class B/SB 200 FC 200 FC No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400. Marine value may be applied seasonally. Class C/SC 1000 FC 1000 FC No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 2000. ------- Bacterial Water Quality Standards by EPA Region Freshwater Marine Region State Class Primary Secondary Primary Secondary Region 1 New Hampshire Class A 47 EC 3 5 EN No single sample may exceed 153 EC or 104 EN. For "beach," no single sample may exceed 88 EC. Based on minimum of 3 samples taken in a 60-day period. Class B 126 EC 35 EN No single sample may exceed 406 EC or 104 EN. Based on minimum of 3 samples taken in a 60-day period. Class B (beaches) 47 EC No single sample may exceed 88 EC Based on minimum of 3 samples taken in a 60-day period. Temporary Partial (none) (none) (none) (none) Use Rhode Island Class A/SA 100TC 70 TC 20 FC 15 FC Primary values based on median. No more than 10% of TC samples may exceed 500 and 3 30, respectively, No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 200 and 50, respectively. Class B/SB 1000TC 700 TC Values based on median. No more than 20% and 10% of TC samples may exceed 2400 and 2300, respectively. 200 FC 50 FC Values based on median. No more than 20% and 10% of FC samples may exceed 500 and 500, respectively. Class C/SC (see note) (see note) Note: None in concentrations that would impair any uses assigned to this class. Comments: Marine FC criteria are guides pending further research. Vermont Class A 18 EC Class B 77 EC Secretary may waive October 31-April 1. ------- Bacterial Water Quality Standards by EPA Region Region State Class Freshwater Marine Primary Secondary Primary Secondary Region 2 New Jersey Freshwater 1 (FW1) (see note) (see note) shall be maintained as to quality in the natural state. Pinelands Waters (see note) (see note) Freshwater 2 (FW2) Saline Estuary 1 (SE1) Saline Estuary 2 (SE2) shall be maintained as to quality in the natural state or the quality necessary to protect the designated use, whichever is more stringent 33 EN 200 FC No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400. No single EN sample may exceed 61, 35 EN 200 FC No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400. No single EN sample may exceed 104. 770 FC Saline Estuary 3 (SE3) 1500FC Saline Coastal 35 EN (SC) Waters 50 FC (within 1500 ft of coastline) 200 FC (1500 ft-3 mi) No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400. No single EN sample may exceed 104. Mainstem Delaware River and Delaware Bay: Zones 1C.1D.1E.6 200 FC Zone 2 200 FC 770 FC Primary RM 133.4-117.81; secondary RM 133.4- 108.4 Zones 3.4 770 FC Zone 5 200 FC 770 FC Primary RM 59.5^8.2; secondary RM 78.8-59.5 New York Class AA 50 TC Value based on median. No more than 20% of TC samples may exceed 240. Standards apply during periods of disinfection. Class A 2400 TC 200 FC TC value based on median. No more than 20% of TC samples may exceed 20,000. ------- Bacterial Water Quality Standards by EPA Region Region State Class Freshwater Primary Secondary Marine Primary Secondary Region 2 (cont'd.) New York (continued) Puerto Rico Virgin Islands Class B/SB Class C/SC Class D/SD 2400 TC 200 FC 2400 TC 200 FC TC values based on median. No more than 20% of TC samples may exceed 5000. 2400 TC 200 FC 2400 TC 200 FC Class I Class A-Special (A-S) TC values based on median. No more than 20% of TC samples may exceed 5000. 2400 TC 200 FC TC values based on median. No more than 20% of TC samples may exceed 5000. Criteria apply only to Class D waters. There are no bacterial criteria for Class SD waters. Class SD waters are not meant for recreational purposes. 10000TC 2000 FC 1000 TC Fresh Surface Water 200 FC Class SA Class SB Class SC Class SD Class SE Class A Class B (see note) Note: May not be altered except by natural causes. 35 EN 200 FC 35 EN for "intensely used waters"; otherwise, 200 FC. No more than 20% of FC samples may exceed 400. 10,000 TC 2000 FC No more than 20% of FC samples may exceed 4000. 10,000 TC 2000 FC No more than 20% of FC samples may exceed 4000. (see note) Note: None of the parameters may be altered, except by natural causes. (see note) Note: Existing natural conditions are not to be changed. 70 FC Class C 200 FC ------- Bacterial Water Quality Standards by EPA Region Freshwater Marine Region State Class Primary Secondary Primary Secondary Region 3 Delaware 100 EN Bathing beaches 1 93 EN 10 EN 35 EN Comments: No single freshwater sample may exceed 360 EN. No single marine sample may exceed 2,212 EN, or 460 EN within one- half mile of Indian River Inlet All samples with an excess of 104 EN are re-sampled, with advisories being based on consecutive samples in excess of the 104 EN criteria. Bathing beaches criteria are not part of the Delaware water quality standards regulations. District of Columbia Maryland Public bathing beach Other than public bathing beach 200 FC 1000 FC Does not apply for 24 hr following high Maximum 30 day geometric for 5 samples. 126 EC 35 EN 33 EN 200 FC 200 FC 200 FC flow conditions. 200 FC Pennsylvania Comments: Virginia Comments: West Virginia Comments: No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400. Based on no less than 5 samples taken over a 30-day period. Bacl Bac2 200 FC Swimming season (May 1-September 30). 2000 FC applies during the rest of the year. 5000 FC No more than 20% of samples may exceed 5000 FC. No more than 5% of samples may exceed 20,000 FC. For public water supplies. Criteria adopted by the Delaware River Basin Commission (200 FC for the Delaware River from the Burlington Bristol Bridge to the Pennsylvania / Delaware line, 770 FC for the Delaware River from the head of tide to the Burlington Bristol Bridge) apply when they are more stringent than Pennsylvania's criteria. 126 EC 200 FC 200 FC 35 EN 200 FC 200 FC Based on two or more samples over a calendar month. No more than 10% of FC samples taken over a calendar month may exceed 400 FC. No sample may exceed 1000 FC. FC criteria do not apply after a sampling station has 12 or more data points for EC or EN, or after June, 2008, whichever comes first. Single sample maximum based on 75% upper confidence limit and site-specific log standard deviation. Until sufficient data are acquired 0.4 will be used for fresh waters, and 0.7 will be used for marine waters (235 EC and 104 EN) Categories A&C 200 FC No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400. Ohio River (Category C) 20J30FC For nonrecreation season November-April only. Based on minimum of 5 samples per month ------- Bacterial Water Quality Standards by EPA Region Region State Class Freshwater Marine Primary Secondary Primary Secondary Region 4 Alabama Florida Georgia Kentucky Mississippi North Carolina Swimming 200 FC 200 FC 100FC 100 FC Primary applies year-round. Secondary applies for out of season (October-May). Out of season mean 2000 FC; 4000 FC sample maximum for freshwater and marine waters. Fish and Wildlife 200 FC 1000 FC 100 FC 1000 FC 200 FC 200 FC No more than 10% FC samples may exceed 400; 800 FC on any one day. 1000 TC maximum for monthly average. No more than 20% of TC single samples may exceed 1000. 2400 TC maximum on any one day. Based on minimum of 10 samples. Recreation Fishing 200 FC 200 FC 100 FC 200 FC For May through October, primary recreation criteria apply. All other months, secondary recreation criteria apply with a 4000 FC maximum of any sample. 200 FC 1000FC 200 FC 1000 FC 200 FC 1000FC For May-October; no more than 20% of FC samples may exceed 400 and 2000, respectively. Out of season, secondary contact criteria used for primary waters. Recreation 200 FC 200 FC No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400. Fish & Wildlife 200 FC 2000 FC 200 FC 2000 FC No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400. From November to April, secondary applies and no more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 4000. ^^ Class SA (shellfishing) Class B/SB (Primary Recreation, FreshYTidal Salt) HFC Based on median value. No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 43 in those areas most probably exposed to fecal contamination during the most unfavorable hydrographic and pollution conditions. 200 FC 200 FC No more than 20% of FC samples may exceed 400. Class C/SC (Secondary Recreation, FreshYTidal Salt) 200 FC 200 FC No more than 20% of FC samples may exceed 400. Violations are expected immediately following periods of rainfall in segments where uncontrollable nonpoint source pollution prevents attainment. ------- Bacterial Water Quality Standards by EPA Region Region State Class Freshwater Marine Primary Secondary Primary Secondary Region 4 South Carolina Class FW/SA 200 FC 200 FC * '^ No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400. Class SB 200 FC 1000FC No more than 20% of FC samples may exceed 2000. Tennessee Recreation 200 FC 126 EC Based on minimum of 10 samples. No single FC sample may exceed 1000. Domestic Water 1000 FC 1000 FC Supply Based on a minimum of 10 samples. No single FC sample may exceed 5000. Fish & Wildlife 1000 FC 1000 FC Based on a minimum of 10 samples. No single FC sample may exceed 5000. Miccosukee Tribe 1000 TC of Indians of 200 FC Florlda No more than 20% of samples may exceed 1000 FC. No more than 10% of samples may exceed 400 FC. No sample may exceed 2,400 EC. Seminole Tribe of 200 FC No more than 10% of samples may exceed 400 FC. No sample may exceed 800 FC. Region 5 Illinois 200 FC No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400. Lake Michigan 20 FC Comments: Illinois monitors 99% of its recreational waters using EC. Indiana 125 EC For season April through October. No single sample may exceed 235 EC. Michigan 130 EC 200 FC No single sample may exceed 300 EC. May be exceeded if due to uncontrollable nonpoint sources. Primary standard can be temporarily suspended due to flood, accident, or emergencies that affect a sewer or wastewater treatment system. Can be suspended November 1 -April 30. The criteria apply, at minimum, May 1 -October 31. Comments: The EC value is used for ambient monitoring; the FC value is used for assessing effluent discharges. ------- Bacterial Water Quality Standards by EPA Region Region State Region 5 Minnesota (cont'd) Class Class A Class B Freshwater Marine Primary Secondary Primary Secondary 200 FC No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400. Criterion applies only during the March 1 -October 31 season. 200 FC Ohio No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 2000. Criterion applies only during the March 1-October 31 season. Lake Erie & Ohio River Uses Rest of state 200 FC 126 EC No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400. No more than 10% of EC samples may exceed 235. Based on not less than 5 samples taken during any 30-day period. 1000 FC 126 EC 5000 FC 576 EC Comments; Wisconsin Fond du Lac Band of the Chippewa Tribe No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 2000 and 5000, respectively. No more lhan 10% of EC samples may exceed 298 [primary] and 576 [secondary]. Both Lake Erie and the Ohio River are designated as bathing waters. For each designation, at least one of the two bacterial standards (FC or EC) must be met. These criteria apply outside the mixing zone. 200 FC No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400. Specific water segments have variances which allow 1 OOP FC. 126 EC 126 EC When fewer than five samples are collected in a thirty day period, no sample may exceed 235 EC. Sokaogon Chippewa Community of the Mole Lake Band of Chippewa Indians (See note) (See note) Criteria are based on either EPA criteria guidance or ambient concentrations, whichever is more stringent. ------- Bacterial Water Quality Standards by EPA Region Freshwater Marine Region State Class Primary Secondary Primary Secondary Region 6 Arkansas 200 FC 1000FC No more than 10% of FC sample may exceed 400 and 2000, respectively. For extraordinary resource waters, primary standard always applies; for other waters, primary standard in effect April 1-September 30. Rest of year, secondary applies. Louisiana 200 FC 1000 FC 200 FC 1000FC No more than 10% of FC samples in a 30 day period, or 25% annually, may exceed 400 for primary contact and 2000 for secondary contact Primary criteria apply May 1 - October 31. The rest of the year, secondary criteria apply. New Mexico 200 FC 1000FC Comments: Oklahoma Comments: Comments: No single sample may exceed 400 FC or 2000 FC, respectively. Select Segments: 100 FC No single sample may exceed 200 FC Surface waters of the state shall be virtually free of pathogens. In particular, surface waters of the state used for irrigation of table crops such as lettuce shall be virtually free of salmonella and shingella species. 126 EC 33 EN 200 FC Narrative Primary criteria apply May 1 - September 30; rest of year, secondary criteria apply. No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400. For lakes and high use waterbodies, no single sample may exceed 235 EC and 61 EN. For all other waters, no single sample may exceed 406 EC and 108 EN. Adopted WQS to allow choice of FC. EC, EN. Texas 126 EC 200 FC 605 EC 2000 FC 35 EN 200 FC 168 EN 2000 FC No sample may exceed 394 EC for primary contact. No samples may exceed 400 FC or 89 EN for primary contact and 4000 FC for secondary contact. Houston Ship Channel 168 EN No more than 10% of EN samples (if more than 10 samples) or a single sample (if fewer than 10 samples) may exceed 500, This criterion applies for two segments of the Houston Ship Channel. Texas Department of Health uses most probable number (MPN) methodology; Texas Commission on Environmental Quality uses membrane filtration (MF) methodology. FC bacteria can be used as an alternative instream indicator of recreational suitability until sufficient data are available for EC or EN. For segments designated as oyster waters, FC can continue to be used as an indicator of recreational suitability because FC is used as the indicator for suitability of oyster water use. ------- Region Region 6 (cont'd) Bacterial Water Quality Standards by EPA Region Freshwater Marine State Class Primary Secondary Primary Secondary Pueblo of Acorn a 1 26 EC 33 EN 200 FC No sample may exceed 235 EC or 61 EN for Acomita Lake and high use water bodies and 406 EC or 108 EN for all other ceremonial and recreational use areas. No more than 10% of the total samples in any 30-day period may exceed 400 FC. The criteria for partial body contact is 10 times the criteria specified for primary contact recreation. Comments: Compliance for primary contact recreation based on meeting the criteria for one of the indicators. Pueblo of Isleta Primary Contact Ceremonial 47 EC 100FC No sample may exceed 200 FC or 88 EC for primary contact ceremonial and recreational uses. Pueblo ofNambe Comments: 200 FC No sample may exceed 400 FC No secondary contact recreation use. Pueblo of Picuris Comments: 126 EC 200 FC No sample may exceed 400 FC or 235 EC. No secondary contact recreation use. Pueblo of Pojoaque 126 EC 200 FC No sample may exceed 400 FC or 235 EC. Comments: No secondary contact recreation use. Pueblo of Sandia Ceremonial 100 FC Recreational (April 1- September 30) (All other times) 100 FC 200 FC Comments: No sample may exceed 200 FC for primary contact recreation and primary contact ceremonial uses, or 400 EC for secondary contact recreation. Pueblo of San Juan Ceremonial Recreational (April 1 - September 30) 100 FC 47 EC 47 EC 100 FC 200 FC (All other times): 200 FC Comments: No sample may exceed 200 FC or 88 EC for primary contact recreation or primary contact ceremonial uses, and 400 FC for secondary contact recreation. ------- Bacterial Water Quality Standards by EPA Region Region State Class Freshwater Marine Primary Secondary Primary Secondary Region 6 Pueblo of Santa 200 FC (cont'd.) Clara ' Comments: No secondary contact recreation use. Pueblo of Tesuque 200 FC No sample may exceed 400 FC. Comments: No secondary contact recreation use. Region 7 Iowa 200 FC Comments: For April 1-October 31 season. Excepted when waters are materially affected by surface runoff, but FC levels downstream from discharge may not be >200 more than the background level upstream. Kansas 200 FC 2000 FC No sample may exceed 900 FC. Primary contact use applies April 1-October 31. Secondary criteria applies year-round. Comments: Classified surface waters may be excluded from the application of the numeric criteria for fecal coliform when stream flow exceeds 50% of the estimated 2- year flood flow. Missouri 200 FC For periods when the stream or lake is not affected by storm water runoff. Applies April 1-October 31. Comments: State applies FC to designated losing streams also, but on a year- round basis. Nebraska 200 FC No more than 10% of samples may exceed 400 FC. Applies May 1-September 30. ------- Bacterial Water Quality Standards by EPA Region Region State Freshwater Marine Class Primary Secondary Primary Secondary Region 8 Utah Comments: Wyoming Comments; Montana Comments: Class 2A 1000 TC 200 FC Class 2B Failure of stream to meet WQS when flow is unusually high is not a cause for action if discharger is meeting permit requirements. 5000 TC 200 FC Although the state has both primary and secondary contact recreation uses, the same primary contact level of protection is applied to both. The state retained two use classifications to address safety concerns in designating certain waters as "swimmable." 200 FC 1000 FC No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400 and 2000, respectively. For recreational season May 1 -September 30. The geometric mean of 3 samples collected within a 24 hour period may not exceed 400 FC. All waters of the state are designated for primary contact. Standards apply throughout the year. Colorado Class 1A Class IB Class 2 200 FC 126 EC 325 FC 205 EC 2000 FC 630 EC Comments: Colorado has two categories of primary contact recreation use in addition to their secondary contact recreation use. The Recreation Class 1 a use is the default use category. In these waters, primary contact recreation uses have been documented or are presumed to be present. The Recreation Class Ib use is intended to protect waters with the potential to support primary contact uses, and may be assigned only if a reasonable level of inquiry has failed to identify any existing primary contact recreation uses of the waterbody. The Rec Ib use category is assigned geometric mean E. coli criteria based on an illness rate of 10 per 1000 swimmers (compared to 8 per 1000 for Class la). Finally, the Recreation Class 2 use may be assigned only where a use attainability analysis has demonstrated that there is no reasonable potential for primary contact recreation uses to occur within the next 20-year period. Class A 50 FC Class Al 50 FC Classes B1.B2, B3,C1,C2,C3 200 FC No more than 10% of samples may exceed 400 FC. Classes A and Al are protected as primary drinking water sources. Criteria for B and C classes only apply when the water is above 60 degrees F. All waters of the state are given an A, B, or C classification. ------- Bacterial Water Quality Standards by EPA Region Freshwater Marine Region State Class Primary Secondary Primary Secondary Region 8 North Dakota 200 FC (cont'd.) Only during recreation season May 1-September 30. Comments: The primary contact standards apply to all waters. The standards note that Class III waters have limited potential for immersion recreation because of ephemeral and intermittent flows. Nevertheless, the standards'apply. South Dakota 200 FC 1000 FC No sample may exceed 400 FC for primary contact recreation and 2000 FC for secondary contact recreation. No more than 20% of samples may exceed 200 FC for primary contact recreation and 1000 FC for secondary contact recreation. Comments: The primary and secondary contact standards apply May 1-September 30. Assiniboine and 126 EC 126 EC Sioux Tribes of the 200 FC 200 FC Fort Peck Indian . ~, j of the total samples during a 30-day period cannot Reservation exceed 40Q pc NQ s&mplc may exceed 235 EC for primary contact recreation and 406 EC for secondary contact recreation. Comments: The recreational standards apply when the water temperature exceeds 15.5 degrees C. The only difference in the level of protection between primary and secondary is the single sample maximum for EC. Confederated Kootenai Tribes of Class A - closed the Flathead basin Reservation Class M 200 FC 50 TC 50 TC 200 FC 50 TC 50 TC 10% of the total samples during a 30-day period cannot exceed 400 FC. Comments: All waters of the Reservation are designated for primary contact recreation. One element of the Class A use is primary contact recreation. ------- Bacterial Water Quality Standards by EPA Region Region State Class Freshwater Marine Primary Secondary Primary Secondary Region 9 Arizona California 126 EC 1261 EC Single sample maximum is 235 for full body contact and 576 for partial body contact. North Coastal 50 FC 50 FC No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400. San Francisco 126ECf 2000 FC 35 EN 2000 FC Bay 33EN| 200 FC Regional Board 2 200 FC 240 TC 240 TC Marine waters: No sample may exceed 104 - 500 EN based on frequency of use. Fresh waters: No sample may exceed 61-151 EN or 235-576 EC based on frequency of use. No sample may exceed 4000 FC for secondary contact. No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400. No sample to exceed 10,000 TC. Central Coast 200 FC 2000 FC 200 FC 2000 FC Regional Board 3 NQ mQre ^ }Q% Qf pc samples may exceed 40Q for water contact recreation (REC-1) or 4000 for non-contact water recreation (REC-2). Los Angeles 126 EC 2000 FC 35 EN 2000 FC Regional Board 4 200 FC 200 FC 1000TC Marine: single sample maximum is 400 FC, 10,000 TC, and 104 EN. Fresh: single sample maximum is 235 EC and 400 FC. Central Valley 126 EC Regional Board 5 """.""" j '.' '.""""'""'" Single sample maximum is 235 EC. FolsomLake 100FC /In fantral ................... ^1H IsCIllTal ...- Valley) No more ^^ 10% °f samples may exceed 200 FC. Lahontan 20 FC .»!> 11 l***+++**«*»********<*>ll***««*l»l»******>****«**<*44**»««ttlf »"«--"'««"» * *** ***......*** I*..........*....*......,,.,.... No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 40. No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 75 for the Eagle Drainage Hydrologic Area. A log mean concentration exceeding 20/100 mi for any 30-day period shall indicate violation of this objective even if fewer than five samples were collected. ------- Bacterial Water Quality Standards by EPA Region Freshwater Marine Region Region 9 (cont'd) State California (continued) Class Colorado River Basin Regional Board 7 Primary 126 EC 33 EN 200 FC Secondary 630 EC 165 EN Primary Secondary No sample may exceed 100 EN and 400 EC for primary contact and 500 EN and 2000 EC for secondary contact. For the Colorado River, no sample may exceed 61 EN and 23 5 EC for freshwater primary contact For secondary contact, no sample may exceed 305 EN and 1175 EC. No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400. Also maximum limits for EN and EC vary by level of use. Santa Ana Regional Board 8 200 FC 2000 FC 200 FC 2000 FC No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400 for primary contact and 4000 for secondary contact; 100 TC maximum in lakes and streams designated as domestic water supply. The marine water criteria also apply to bays and estuaries. San Diego 126 EC Regional Board 9 33 EN 200 FC 2000 FC 35 EN 200 FC 2000 FC Comments: Hawaii Comments: For fresh water, no more than 10% of samples may exceed 400 FC for primary contact and 4000 FC for secondary contact. Single sample maximum ranges from 61 EN -151 EN and 235 EC - 576 EC for fresh waters and 104 EN - 500 EN for marine waters based on frequency of use. Ocean Plan 24 EN for 30 day period 12 EN for 6 month period 200 FC 1000 TC No more than 20% of TC samples may exceed 1000 in bays and estuaries. No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400. Essentially all California waters are designated for primary contact recreation with the exception of the Colorado River Basin Region. 200 FC 7 EN Inland: based on minimum of 10 samples. No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400. Marine: based on minimum of 5 samples. Revisions pending for fresh waters and marine waters. ------- Bacterial Water Quality Standards by EPA Region Region State Class Freshwater Primary Secondary Marine Primary Secondary Region 9 (cont'd.) Nevada Comments: American Samoa Comments: Class A and B 200 FC No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400. Class C (includes noncontact recreation) FC may not exceed the more stringent of; 1) The FC concentration must not exceed 1000 nor may more than 20% of total samples exceed 2400. 2) The FC concentration must not exceed that which is characteristic of natural conditions by more than 200, nor may the FC concentration in a single sample exceed that which is characteristic of natural conditions by more than 400. Waters not listed below 200 FC 1000 FC More stringent of the following: For 1000 FC, no more than 20% of samples may exceed 2400 FC. Annual geometric mean FC concentration may not exceed characteristics of natural conditions by more than 200 FC, nor 400 FC in a single sample. For primary, no more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400. Lake Tahoe and 126 EC Tributaries and Humboldt River Basin, Walker Lake Tahoe Basin also has FC limits between 5 and 32 River, and Walker (median) for offshore and undeveloped lake shore. Lake Humboldt River Basin has single value of 406 EC. Nevada adopts water quality standards on a water body specific basis. The state is in the process of replacing waters with FC criteria with EC criteria as revisions are made basin-by-basin. 100FC 35 EN No more than 10% of samples may exceed 200 FC. For Open Ocean, no sample may exceed 276 EN. For Open Coastal Waters and all Embayments except Pago Harbor, Fagatele Bay, and Pala Lagoon, no sample may exceed 124 EN. For Pago Harbor, Fagatele Bay, and Pala Lagoon, no sample may exceed 104 EN. Revisions pending for fresh waters. Common wealth of All waters the Northern Mariana Islands 200 FC 200 FC No FC samples may exceed 400 at any time. Class AA 35 EN Class 1 125 EC 33 EN Class A 125 EN Class 2 300 EC 90 EN Comments: All Mariana Islands standards based on a minimum of 5 samples. One element of the Class A use is limited body contact. ------- Bacterial Water Quality Standards by EPA Region Region State Class Freshwater Marine Primary Secondary Primary Secondary Region 9 Guam (cont'd) S1/S2 Fresh Waters 126 EC 33 EN No sample may exceed 235 EC or 61 EN. Values based on arithmetic mean. S3 Fresh Waters 126 EC 33 EN M1/M2 Marine Waters M3 Marine Waters Values based on arithmetic mean. No sample may exceed 406 EC. No sample may exceed 108 EN. 35 EN No sample may exceed 104 EN. 35 EN No sample may exceed 276 EN. Comments; All waters are designated for contact recreation. Hoopa Vallev Tribe White Mountain Apache Tribe 126 EC 33 EN 47 EC 1000FC 2000 FC with 10% No sample may exceed 88 EC for primary contact and 4000 EC for secondary contact. Comments; Primary contact recreation criteria apply May 1 - September 30, secondary contact recreation criteria apply October 1 - April 30. Region 10 Alaska 100FC 200 FC 100FC 200 FC Comments; No more than 1 sample, or 10% of the samples if there are more than 10 samples, may exceed 200 FC and 400 FC for both freshwater and marine, primary and secondary, respectively. Alaska designates all waters for all uses, and the most stringent criteria must be used. Therefore, for freshwater, the drinking water use criterion of 20 FC usually drives most NPDES permit actions, 303(d) listings, and TMDL development. For marine waters, the most stringent bacterial criterion is for the seafood processing use - 20 FC (no more than 10% of the samples may exceed 40 FC). Even though Alaska has 100 FC/200 FC as its recreation criteria, more stringent criteria for other use categories take precedence. Idaho 126 EC 126 EC Primary levels apply during season May 1-September 30 for primary only; secondary applies all other times. No sample may exceed 406 EC for primary contact recreation and 576 EC for secondary contact recreation. ------- Bacterial Water Quality Standards by EPA Region Region State Class Freshwater Marine Primary Secondary Primary Secondary Region 10 Oregon 126 EC 14FC No freshwater single sample may exceed 406 EC. No more than 10% of FC marine samples may exceed 43. For estuarine waters other than shellfish growing, same criterion as freshwater criterion. For estuarine waters with shellfish, same criterion as marine. Washington Class AA 50 FC HFC t. "**}) ^Q more fl^ JQ% of FC samples may exceed 100 and 43, respectively. Class A 100 FC HFC (excellent) NQ more ^^ 1Q% Qf pc samples ^ exceed 2QQ md ^ respectively. Class B (good) 200 FC 100 FC No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400 and 200, respectively. Only designated for secondary contact. Class C (fair) 200 FC No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400. Only designated for secondary contact. Lake Class 50 FC No more than 10% of samples may exceed 100 FC. Confederated Class AA 50 FC 14FC Tribes of the (extraordinary) "'" '"' V, "T JV j T-T _. . ,. No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 100 and 43, Chehahs .. . v i _ ,, respectively. Reservation Class A 100FC 14FC (excellent) NQ more ^ } Q% Qf pc ^^^ ^y exceed 2QO and 43, respectively. Class B (good) 200 FC 100 FC No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400 and 200, respectively. Only designated for secondary contact. Class C (fair) 200 FC No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400. Only designated for secondary contact. Lake Class 50 FC No more than 10% of samples may exceed 100 FC. ------- Bacterial Water Quality Standards by EPA Region Region State Class Freshwater Marine Primary Secondary Primary Secondary Region 10 Confederated Class I 8 EN (cont'd) Tribes of the (extraordinary) "": ; "Ti'e'm.7 v ' J/ No sample may exceed 3 5 EN. V»O|VIIIc ,^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^_^^_^^^_^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^_^_^^^^^^^^^-^^^^^^^^^^I^___^^^_ Reservation Class II 16 EN No sample may exceed 75 EN. Class III (good) 33 EN No sample may exceed 150 EN. Only designated for secondary contact Lake Class 33 EN No sample may exceed 150 EN. Confederated 126 EC Tribes of the Warm Springs NO sample may exceed 406 EC. Reservation Comments.- Standards are for public and private domestic water supply, water contact recreation, wildlife and hunting, fishing, and boating/recreation. Confederated 126 EC Tribes of the Umatiila No sample may exceed 406 EC. Reservation Puyallup Tribe of Class AA 50 FC 14FC thePuyallup (extraordinary) - Reservation ^° more th811 10% OI" FC samples may exceed 100 and 43, respectively. Class A 100 FC 14 FC ^ ' ce e ' No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 200 and 43, respectively. Class B (good) 200 FC 100 FC No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400 and 200, respectively. Only designated for secondary contact. Class C (fair) 200 FC No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400. Only designated for secondary contact. Lake Class 50 FC No more than 10% of samples may exceed 100 FC. Spokane Tribe of 126 EC No more than 10% of samples may exceed 406 EC. This applies to single samples if less than 10 samples are taken. Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Regional Offices and Office of Science and Technology, Standards and Health Protection Division. ------- |