TP – 1203 An Introduction to Water Quality Standards for Professional Engineers

Description

Water quality standards and criteria are used to regulate in-stream water quality and regulate water quality for specific beneficial uses. Standards are enforceable levels of contaminant concentrations that are set to provide general or specific water quality protection. Stream standards are established to protect aquatic biota and other beneficial uses of the water resource such as water contact recreation. Stream standards are established by the regulating authority (usually the State) and are based on the CWA and amendments. Drinking water standards are based on the SDWA and subsequent amendments that are applied to public drinking water supplies. Drinking water standards are applied to the treated water that is supplied to the consumer and are based on an acceptable level of human health risk and the economics of meeting the established standards