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You are here: Water Science & Technology Surface Water Standards & Guidance Water Quality Standards Water

 Quality Criteria National Recommended Water Quality Criteria

National Recommended Water Quality Criteria

EPA's compilation of national recommended water quality criteria is presented as a

 summary table containing recommended water quality criteria for the protection of

 aquatic life and human health in surface water for approximately 150 pollutants.

 These criteria are published pursuant to Section 304(a) of the Clean Water Act

 (CWA) and provide guidance for states and tribes to use in adopting water quality

 standards.

Aquatic Life Criteria Table

Human Health Criteria Table

Final 2015 Updated National Recommended Human Health Criteria

Organoleptic Effects (e.g., taste and odor) 

Additional Notes

Appendix A—Conversion Factors for Dissolved Metals

Appendix B—Parameters for Calculating Freshwater Dissolved Metals Criteria That Are Hardness-Dependent

Gold & Red Books

Aquatic Life Criteria Table

Freshwater Saltwater

Pollutant CAS

 Number

P/NP* CMC 1

(acute)

(μg/L)

CCC 1

(chronic)

(μg/L)

CMC 1

(acute)

(μg/L)

CCC 1

(chronic)

(μg/L)

Publication

 Year

Acrolein 107028 P 3ug/L 3ug/L 2009

Aesthetic Qualities — NP NARRATIVE STATEMENT—SEE DOCUMENT 1986

Aldrin 309002 P 3.0 G 1.3 G 1980

Alkalinity — NP 20000 C 1986

alpha-Endosulfan 959988 P 0.22 G, Y 0.056 G, Y 0.034 G,

Y

0.0087 G,

Y

1980

Aluminum pH 6.5

 – 9.0

7429905 NP 750 I 87 I, S 1988

Ammonia 7664417 NP FRESHWATER CRITERIA ARE pH, Temperature and Life-stage

 DEPENDENT

SALTWATER CRITERIA ARE pH AND TEMPERATURE DEPENDENT

2013

1989

Arsenic 7440382 P 340 A, D 150 A, D 69 A, D 36 A, D 1995

Bacteria — NP FOR PRIMARY RECREATION AND SHELLFISH USES—SEE

 DOCUMENT

1986

beta-Endosulfan 33213659 P 0.22 G, Y 0.056 G, Y 0.034 G,

Y

0.0087 G,

Y

1980

Boron — NP NARRATIVE STATEMENT—SEE DOCUMENT 1986

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Carbaryl 63252 NP 2.1 2.1 1.6 2012

Cadmium 7440439 P 2.0 D, E 0.25 D, E 40 D 8.8 D 2001

Chlordane 57749 P 2.4 G 0.0043 G 0.09 G 0.004 G 1980

Chloride 16887006 NP 860000 230000 1986

Chlorine 7782505 NP 19 11 13 7.5 1986

Chloropyrifos 2921882 NP 0.083 0.041 0.011 0.0056 1986

Chromium (III) 16065831 P 570 D, E 74 D, E 1995

Chromium (VI) 18540299 P 16 D 11 D 1,100 D 50 D 1995

Color — NP NARRATIVE STATEMENT—SEE DOCUMENT 1986

Copper 7440508 P Freshwater criteria calculated using the

 BLM mm - See Document

4.8 D, cc 3.1 D, cc 2007

Cyanide 57125 P 22 Q 5.2 Q 1 Q 1 Q 1985

Demeton 8065483 NP 0.1 C 0.1 C 1985

Diazinon 333415 NP 0.17ug/L 0.17ug/L 0.82ug/L 0.82ug/L 2005

Dieldrin 60571 P 0.24 0.056 O 0.71 G 0.0019 G 1995

Endrin 72208 P 0.086 0.036 O 0.037 G 0.0023 G 1995

gamma-BHC

 (Lindane)

58899 P 0.95 0.16 G 1995

Gases, Total

 Dissolved

— NP NARRATIVE STATEMENT—SEE DOCUMENT C 1986

Guthion 86500 NP 0.01 C 0.01 C 1986

Hardness — NP NARRATIVE STATEMENT—SEE DOCUMENT 1986

Heptachlor 76448 P 0.52 G 0.0038 G 0.053 G 0.0036 G 1980

Heptachlor

 Epoxide

1024573 P 0.52 G, V 0.0038 G, V 0.053 G,

V

0.0036 G,

V

1981

Iron 7439896 NP 1000 C 1986

Lead 7439921 P 65 D, E 2.5 D, E 210 D 8.1 D 1980

Malathion 121755 NP 0.1 C 0.1 C 1986

Mercury

Methylmercury

7439976

22967926

P 1.4 D, hh 0.77 D, hh 1.8 D,

ee, hh

0.94 D,

ee, hh

1995

Methoxychlor 72435 NP 0.03 C 0.03 C 1986

Mirex 2385855 NP 0.001 C 0.001 C 1986

Nickel 7440020 P 470 D, E 52 D, E 74 D 8.2 D 1995

Nonylphenol 84852153 NP 28ug/L 6.6ug/L 7ug/L 1.7ug/L 2005

Nutrients — NP See EPA's Ecoregional criteria for Total Phosphorus, Total

 Nitrogen, Chlorophyll a and Water Clarity (Secchi depth for

 lakes; turbidity for streams and rivers) (& Level III Ecoregional

 criteria)

Oil and Grease — NP NARRATIVE STATEMENT—SEE DOCUMENT C 1986

Oxygen, Dissolved

 Freshwater

Oxygen, Dissolved

7782447 NP WARMWATER AND COLDWATER MATRIX—SEE DOCUMENT

SALTWATER—SEE DOCUMENT

1986
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 Saltwater

Parathion 56382 NP 0.065 I 0.013 I 1995

Pentachlorophenol 87865 P 19 F 15 F 13 7.9 1995

pH — NP 6.5 – 9 C 6.5 – 8.5

C, P

1986

Phosphorus

 Elemental

7723140 NP 1986

Polychlorinated

 Biphenyls (PCBs)

P 0.014 N 0.03 N

Selenium 7782492 P L, R 5.0 R 290 D,

dd

71 D, dd 1999

Silver 7440224 P 3.2 D, E 1.9 D 1980

Solids Suspended

 and Turbidity

— NP NARRATIVE STATEMENT—SEE DOCUMENT C 1986

Sulfide-Hydrogen

 Sulfide

7783064 NP 2.0 C 2.0 C 1986

Tainting

 Substances

— NP NARRATIVE STATEMENT—SEE DOCUMENT 1986

Temperature — NP SPECIES DEPENDENT CRITERIA—SEE DOCUMENT M 1986

Toxaphene 8001352 P 0.73 0.0002 0.21 0.0002 1986

Tributyltin (TBT) — NP 0.46 0.072 0.42 0.0074 2004

Zinc 7440666 P 120 D, E 120 D, E 90 D 81 D 1995

4,4'-DDT 50293 P 1.1 G, ii 0.001 G, ii 0.13 G, ii 0.001 G,

ii

1980

*P/NP – Indicates either a Priority Pollutant (P) or a Non Priority Pollutant (NP).

Footnotes

A This recommended water quality criterion was derived from data for arsenic (III), but is applied here to total arsenic,

 which might imply that arsenic (III) and arsenic (V) are equally toxic to aquatic life and that their toxicities are additive.

 No data are known to be available concerning whether the toxicities of the forms of arsenic to aquatic organisms are

 additive. Please consult the criteria document for details.

C The derivation of this value is presented in the Red Book (EPA 440/9-76-023, July, 1976). The CCC of 20mg/L is a

 minimum value except where alkalinity is naturally lower, in which case the criterion cannot be lower than 25% of the

 natural level.

D Freshwater and saltwater criteria for metals are expressed in terms of the dissolved metal in the water column. See

 "Office of Water Policy and Technical Guidance on Interpretation and Implementation of Aquatic Life Metals Criteria

 (PDF)," (49 pp, 3MB) October 1, 1993, by Martha G. Prothro, Acting Assistant Administrator for Water, available on

NSCEP's web site and 40CFR§131.36(b)(1). Conversion Factors applied in the table can be found in Appendix A to the

 Preamble- Conversion Factors for Dissolved Metals.

E The freshwater criterion for this metal is expressed as a function of hardness (mg/L) in the water column. The value

 given here corresponds to a hardness of 100 mg/L. Criteria values for other hardness may be calculated per the

 equation presented in the criteria document.

F Freshwater aquatic life values for pentachlorophenol are expressed as a function of pH. Values displayed in table

 correspond to a pH of 7.8.

G This Criterion is based on 304(a) aquatic life criterion issued in 1980, and was issued in one of the following

 documents: Aldrin/Dieldrin (PDF) (153 pp, 7.3MB) (EPA 440/5-80-019), Chlordane (PDF) (68 pp, 3.1MB) (EPA 440/5-80-

027), DDT (PDF) (175 pp, 8.3MB) (EPA 440/5-80-038), Endosulfan (PDF) (155 pp, 7.3MB) (EPA 440/5-80-046), Endrin (PDF)
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(103 pp, 4.6MB) (EPA 440/5-80-047), Heptachlor (PDF) (114 pp, 5.4MB) (EPA 440/5-80-052), Hexachlorocyclohexane (PDF)

(109 pp, 4.8MB) (EPA 440/5-80-054), Silver (EPA 440/5-80-071). The Minimum Data Requirements and derivation

 procedures were different in the 1980 Guidelines than in the 1985 Guidelines (PDF) (104 pp, 3.3MB). If evaluation is to

 be done using an averaging period, the acute criteria values given should be divided by 2 to obtain a value that is more

 comparable to a CMC derived using the 1985 Guidelines.

I This value for aluminum is expressed in terms of total recoverable metal in the water column.

J This value was derived using the GLI Guidelines (60 FR 15393-15399, March 23, 1995; 40CFR132 Appendix A); the

 differences between the 1985 Guidelines and the GLI Guidelines are explained on page iv of the 1995 Updates. No

 decision concerning this criterion was affected by any considerations that are specific to the Great Lakes.

L The CMC = 1/[(f1/CMC1) + (f2/CMC2)] where f1 and f2 are the fractions of total selenium that are treated as selenite

 and selenate, respectively, and CMC1 and CMC2 are 185.9 ug/l and 12.82 ug/l, respectively. However, based on

 findings from a February 2009 SETAC Pellston Workshop on Ecological Assessment of Selenium in the Aquatic

 Environment, diet is the primary pathway of selenium exposure to aquatic life, and traditional methods for predicting

 toxicity on the basis of exposure to dissolved concentrations are not appropriate for selenium. (To view a summary of

 the SETAC Pellston workshop including key findings visit

http://www.setac.org/resource/resmgr/publications_and_resources/selsummary.pdf).

M U.S. EPA. 1973. Water Quality Criteria 1972. EPA-R3-73-033. National Technical Information Service, Springfield,

 VA.; U.S. EPA. 1977. Temperature Criteria for Freshwater Fish: Protocol and Procedures. EPA 600/3-77-061. National

 Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA.

N This criterion applies to total PCBs, (e.g., the sum of all congener or all isomer or homolog or Aroclor analyses.)

O The derivation of the CCC for this pollutant (Endrin) did not consider exposure through the diet, which is probably

 important for aquatic life occupying upper trophic levels.

P According to page 181 of the Red Book:

For open ocean waters where the depth is substantially greater than the euphotic zone, the pH should not be changed

 more than 0.2 units from the naturally occurring variation or any case outside the range of 6.5 to 8.5. For shallow,

 highly productive coastal and estuarine areas where naturally occurring pH variations approach the lethal limits of

 some species, changes in pH should be avoided but in any case should not exceed the limits established for fresh

 water, i.e., 6.5-9.0.

Q This recommended water quality criterion is expressed as ug free cyanide (as CN)/L.

R EPA is in the process of updating this criterion to reflect the latest scientific information. See EPA's Aquatic Life

 Criterion - Selenium website for more information.

S There are three major reasons why the use of Water-Effect Ratios might be appropriate.

1. The value of 87 μg/l is based on a toxicity test with the striped bass in water with pH = 6.5–6.6 and hardness

 <10 mg/L. Data in "Aluminum Water-Effect Ratio for the 3M Plant Effluent Discharge, Middleway, West Virginia"

 (May 1994) indicate that aluminum is substantially less toxic at higher pH and hardness, but the effects of pH

 and hardness are not well quantified at this time.

2. In tests with the brook trout at low pH and hardness, effects increased with increasing concentrations of total

 aluminum even though the concentration of dissolved aluminum was constant, indicating that total recoverable

 is a more appropriate measurement than dissolved, at least when particulate aluminum is primarily aluminum

 hydroxide particles. In surface waters, however, the total recoverable procedure might measure aluminum

 associated with clay particles, which might be less toxic than aluminum associated with aluminum hydroxide.

3. EPA is aware of field data indicating that many high quality waters in the U.S. contain more than 87 g

 aluminum/L, when either total recoverable or dissolved is measured.

V This value was derived from data for heptachlor and the criteria document provides insufficient data to estimate the

 relative toxicities of heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide.

Y This value was derived from data for endosulfan and is most appropriately applied to the sum of alpha-endosulfan

 and beta-endosulfan.
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cc When the concentration of dissolved organic carbon is elevated, copper is substantially less toxic and use of WaterEffect Ratios might be appropriate.

dd The selenium criteria document (EPA 440/5-87-006, September 1987) provides that if selenium is as toxic to

 saltwater fishes in the field as it is to freshwater fishes in the field, the status of the fish community should be

 monitored whenever the concentration of selenium exceeds 5.0 μg/L in salt water because the saltwater CCC does not

 take into account uptake via the food chain.

ee This recommended water quality criterion was derived on page 43 of the mercury criteria document (PDF) (144 pp,

 6.4MB) (EPA 440/5-84-026, January 1985). The saltwater CCC of 0.025 ug/L given on page 23 of the criteria document

 is based on the Final Residue Value procedure in the 1985 Guidelines. Since the publication of the Great Lakes Aquatic

 Life Criteria Guidelines in 1995 (60 FR 15393-15399, March 23, 1995), the Agency no longer uses the Final Residue

 Value procedure for deriving CCCs for new or revised 304(a) aquatic life criteria.

hh This recommended water quality criterion was derived from data for inorganic mercury (II), but is applied here to

 total mercury. If a substantial portion of the mercury in the water column is methylmercury, this criterion will probably

 be under protective. In addition, even though inorganic mercury is converted to methylmercury and methylmercury

 bioaccumulates to a great extent, this criterion does not account for uptake via the food chain because sufficient data

 were not available when the criterion was derived.

ii This criterion applies to DDT and its metabolites (i.e., the total concentration of DDT and its metabolites should not

 exceed this value).

mm The available toxicity data, when evaluated using the procedures described in the “Guidelines for Deriving

 Numerical National Water Quality Criteria for the Protection of Aquatic Organisms and Their Uses” indicate that

 freshwater aquatic life should be protected if the 24-hour average and four-day average concentrations do not

 respectively exceed the acute and chronic criteria concentrations calculated by the Biotic Ligand Model.

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Human Health Criteria Table

Final 2015 Updated National Recommended Human Health Criteria

Human Health for the consumption of

Pollutant CAS

 Number

P/NP* Water + Organism

(μg/L)

Organism Only

(μg/L)

Publication

 Year

Acenaphthene 83329 P 70 A 90 A 2015

Acrolein 107028 P 3 400 2015

Acrylonitrile 107131 P 0.061 C 7.0 C 2015

Aldrin 309002 P 0.00000077

C

0.00000077 C 2015

alpha-Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) 319846 P 0.00036 C 0.00039 C 2015

alpha-Endosulfan 959988 P 20 30 2015

Anthracene 120127 P 300 400 2015

Antimony 7440360 P 5.6 B, D 640 B, D 2002

Arsenic 7440382 P 0.018 C, D, E 0.14 C, D, E 1992

Asbestos 1332214 P 7 million fibers/L D, F 1991

Barium 7440393 NP 1,000 D, G 1986

Benzene 71432 P 0.58-2.1 C, D 16-58 C, D 2015

Benzidine 92875 P 0.00014 C 0.011 C 2015
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Benzo(a)anthracene 56553 P 0.0012 C 0.0013 C 2015

Benzo(a)pyrene 50328 P 0.00012 C, D 0.00013 C, D 2015

Benzo(b)fluoranthene 205992 P 0.0012 C 0.0013 C 2015

Benzo(k)fluoranthene 207089 P 0.012 C 0.013 C 2015

Beryllium 7440417 P D

beta-Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) 319857 P 0.0080 C 0.014 C 2015

beta-Endosulfan 33213659 P 20 40 2015

Bis(2-Chloro-1-methylethyl) Ether 108601 P 200 4,000 2015

Bis(2-Chloroethyl) Ether 111444 P 0.030 C 2.2 C 2015

Bis(2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate 117817 P 0.32 C, D 0.37 C, D 2015

Bis(Chloromethyl) Ether 542881 NP 0.00015 C 0.017 C 2015

Bromoform 75252 P 7.0 C, D 120 C, D 2015

Butylbenzyl Phthalate 85687 P 0.10 C 0.10 C 2015

Cadmium 7440439 P D

Carbon Tetrachloride 56235 P 0.4 C, D 5 C, D 2015

Chlordane 57749 P 0.00031 C, D 0.00032 C, D 2015

Chlorobenzene 108907 P 100 A, D 800 A, D 2015

Chlorodibromomethane 124481 P 0.80 C, D 21 C, D 2015

Chloroform 67663 P 60 D 2,000 D 2015

Chlorophenoxy Herbicide (2,4-D) 94757 NP 1,300 D 12,000 D 2015

Chlorophenoxy Herbicide (2,4,5-TP)

 [Silvex]

93721 NP 100 D 400 D 2015

Chromium (III) 16065831 P D Total

Chromium (VI) 18540299 P D Total

Chrysene 218019 P 0.12 C, D 0.13 C, D 2015

Copper 7440508 P 1,300 A, D 1992

Cyanide 57125 P 4 D 400 D 2015

Dibenzo(a,h)anthracene 53703 P 0.00012 C 0.00013 C 2015

Dichlorobromomethane 75274 P 0.95 C, D 27 C, D 2015

Dieldrin 60571 P 0.0000012 C 0.0000012 C 2015

Diethyl Phthalate 84662 P 600 600 2015

Dimethyl Phthalate 131113 P 2,000 2,000 2015

Di-n-Butyl Phthalate 84742 P 20 30 2015

Dinitrophenols 25550587 NP 10 1,000 2015

Endosulfan Sulfate 1031078 P 20 40 2015

Endrin 72208 P 0.03 D 0.03 D 2015

Endrin Aldehyde 7421934 P 1 1 2015

Ethylbenzene 100414 P 68 D 130 D 2015

Fluoranthene 206440 P 20 20 2015

Fluorene 86737 P 50 70 2015
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gamma-Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH)

 [Lindane]

58899 P 4.2D 4.4 D 2015

Heptachlor 76448 P 0.0000059 C, D 0.0000059 C, D 2015

Heptachlor Epoxide 1024573 P 0.000032 C, D 0.000032 C, D 2015

Hexachlorobenzene 118741 P 0.000079 C, D 0.000079 C, D 2015

Hexachlorobutadiene 87683 P 0.01 C, D 0.01 C, D 2015

Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) -

Technical

608731 NP 0.0066 C 0.010 C 2015

Hexachlorocyclopentadiene 77474 P 4 A, D 4 A, D 2015

Hexachloroethane 67721 P 0.1 C 0.1 C 2015

Indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene 193395 P 0.0012 C 0.0013 C 2015

Isophorone 78591 P 34 C 1,800 C 2015

Manganese 7439965 NP 50 A, G, H 100 A, G

Methylmercury 22967926 P 0.3 mg/kg I 2001

Methoxychlor 72435 NP 0.02 D 0.02 D 2015

Methyl Bromide 74839 P 100 10,000 2015

Methylene Chloride 75092 P 20 C, D 1,000 C, D 2015

Nickel 7440020 P 610 B 4,600 B 1998

Nitrates 14797558 NP 10,000 D, G 1986

Nitrobenzene 98953 P 10 A 600 A 2015

Nitrosamines — NP 0.0008 1.24 1980

Nitrosodibutylamine, N 924163 NP 0.0063 C 0.22 C 2002

Nitrosodiethylamine, N 55185 NP 0.0008 C 1.24 C 2002

Nitrosopyrrolidine, N 930552 NP 0.016 C 34 C 2002

N-Nitrosodimethylamine 62759 P 0.00069 C 3.0 C 2002

N-Nitrosodi-n-Propylamine 621647 P 0.0050 C 0.51 C 2002

N-Nitrosodiphenylamine 86306 P 3.3 C 6.0 C 2002

Pathogen and Pathogen Indicators — See EPA's 2012 Recreational Water

 Quality Criteria

2012

Pentachlorobenzene 608935 NP 0.1 0.1 2015

Pentachlorophenol 87865 P 0.03 A, C, D 0.04 A, C, D 2015

pH — NP 5 – 9 1986

Phenol 108952 P 4,000 A 300,000 A 2015

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) P 0.000064 C, D, J 0.000064 C, D, J 2002

Pyrene 129000 P 20 30 2015

Selenium 7782492 P 170 D 4200 D 2002

Solids Dissolved and Salinity — NP 250,000 G 1986

Tetrachloroethylene 127184 P 10 C, D 29 C, D 2015

Thallium 7440280 P 0.24 D 0.47 D 2003

Toluene 108883 P 57 D 520 D 2015

Toxaphene 8001352 P 0.00070 C, D 0.00071 C, D 2015
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Trichloroethylene 79016 P 0.6 C, D 7 C, D 2015

Vinyl Chloride 75014 P 0.022 C, D 1.6 C, D 2015

Zinc 7440666 P 7,400 A 26,000 A 2002

1,1,1-Trichloroethane 71556 P 10,000 D 200,000 D 2015

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane 79345 P 0.2 C 3 C 2015

1,1,2-Trichloroethane 79005 P 0.55 C, D 8.9 C, D 2015

1,1-Dichloroethylene 75354 P 300 D 20,000 D 2015

1,2,4,5-Tetrachlorobenzene 95943 NP 0.03 0.03 2015

1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene 120821 P 0.071 D 0.076 D 2015

1,2-Dichlorobenzene 95501 P 1,000 D 3,000 D 2015

1,2-Dichloroethane 107062 P 9.9 C, D 650 C, D 2015

1,2-Dichloropropane 78875 P 0.90 C, D 31 C, D 2015

1,2-Diphenylhydrazine 122667 P 0.03 C 0.2 C 2015

Trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene 156605 P 100 D 4,000 D 2015

1,3-Dichlorobenzene 541731 P 7 10 2015

1,3-Dichloropropene 542756 P 0.27 C 12 C 2015

1,4-Dichlorobenzene 106467 P 300 D 900 D 2015

2,3,7,8-TCDD (Dioxin) 1746016 P 5.0E-9 C, D 5.1E-9 C, D 2002

2,4,5-Trichlorophenol 95954 NP 300 A 600 A 2015

2,4,6-Trichlorophenol 88062 P 1.5 A, C 2.8 A, C 2015

2,4-Dichlorophenol 120832 P 10 A 60 A 2015

2,4-Dimethylphenol 105679 P 100 A 3,000 A 2015

2,4-Dinitrophenol 51285 P 10 300 2015

2,4-Dinitrotoluene 121142 P 0.049 C 1.7 C 2015

2-Chloronaphthalene 91587 P 800 1,000 2015

2-Chlorophenol 95578 P 30 A 800 A 2015

2-Methyl-4,6-Dinitrophenol 534521 P 2 30 2015

3,3'-Dichlorobenzidine 91941 P 0.049 C 0.15 C 2015

3-Methyl-4-Chlorophenol 59507 P 500 A 2,000 A 2015

p,p′-Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane

 (DDD)

72548 P 0.00012 C 0.00012 C 2015

p,p′-Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene

 (DDE)

72559 P 0.000018 C 0.000018 C 2015

p,p′-Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane

 (DDT)

50293 P 0.000030 C 0.000030 C 2015

*P/NP – Indicates either a Priority Pollutant (P) or a Non Priority Pollutant (NP).

Footnotes

A This chemical has a criterion for organoleptic (taste and order) effects. In some cases, the organoleptic criterion may

 be more stringent.

B This criterion was revised to reflect EPA's q1* or RfD as contained in the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) as
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 of May 17, 2002. The fish tissue bioconcentration factor (BCF) is from the 1980 Ambient Water Quality Criteria

 document.

C This criterion is based on carcinogenicity of 10-6 risk.

D EPA has issued a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for this chemical under the Safe Drinking Water Act. In some

 cases, the MCL may be more stringent. For more information see EPA's National Primary Drinking Water Regulations.

E This recommended water quality criterion for arsenic refers to the inorganic form only.

F This criterion for asbestos is the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) developed under the Safe Drinking Water Act

 (SDWA).

G This human health criterion is the same as originally published in the Red Book which predates the 1980

 methodology and did not utilize the fish ingestion BCF approach. This same criterion value is published in the Gold

 Book.

H This criterion for manganese is not based on toxic effects, but rather is intended to minimize objectionable qualities

 such as laundry stains and objectionable tastes in beverages.

I This fish tissue residue criterion for methylmercury is based on a total fish consumption rate of 0.0175 kg/day.

J This criterion applies to total PCBs (e.g., the sum of all congener or all isomer or homolog or Aroclor analyses).

Top of page

Organoleptic Effects (e.g., taste and odor)

Pollutant CAS Number Organoleptic Effect Criteria

(μg/L)

FR Cite/

Source

Acenaphthene 83329 20 Gold Book

Color NP Gold Book

Iron 7439896 300 Gold Book

Red Book

Monochlorobenzene 108907 20 Gold Book

Tainting Substance NP Gold Book

3-Chlorophenol — 0.1 Gold Book

4-Chlorophenol 106489 0.1 Gold Book

2,3-Dichlorophenol — 0.04 Gold Book

2,5-Dichlorophenol — 0.5 Gold Book

2,6-Dichlorophenol — 0.2 Gold Book

3,4-Dichlorophenol — 0.3 Gold Book

2,4,5-Trichlorophenol 95954 1 Gold Book

2,4,6-Trichlorophenol 88062 2 Gold Book

2,3,4,6-Tetrachlorophenol — 1 Gold Book

2-Methyl-4-Chlorophenol — 1800 Gold Book

3-Methyl-4-Chlorophenol 59507 3000 Gold Book

3-Methyl-6-Chlorophenol — 20 Gold Book

2-Chlorophenol 95578 0.1 Gold Book

Copper 7440508 1000 Gold Book
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2,4-Dichlorophenol 120832 0.3 Gold Book

2,4-Dimethylphenol 105679 400 Gold Book

Hexachlorocyclopentadiene 77474 1 Gold Book

Manganese 7439965

Nitrobenzene 98953 30 Gold Book

Pentachlorophenol 87865 30 Gold Book

Phenol 108952 300 Gold Book

Zinc 7440666 5000 45 FR79341

Notes:

1. These criteria are based on organoleptic (taste and odor) effects. Because of variations in chemical nomenclature

 systems, this listing of pollutants does not duplicate the listing in Appendix A of 40 CFR Part 423. Also listed are the

 Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) registry numbers, which provide a unique identification for each chemical.

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Additional Notes

1. Criteria Maximum Concentration and Criterion Continuous Concentration

The Criteria Maximum Concentration (CMC) is an estimate of the highest concentration of a material in surface

 water to which an aquatic community can be exposed briefly without resulting in an unacceptable effect. The

 Criterion Continuous Concentration (CCC) is an estimate of the highest concentration of a material in surface

 water to which an aquatic community can be exposed indefinitely without resulting in an unacceptable effect.

 The CMC and CCC are just two of the six parts of an aquatic life criterion; the other four parts are the acute

 averaging period, chronic averaging period, acute frequency of allowed exceedence, and chronic frequency of

 allowed exceedence. Because 304(a) aquatic life criteria are national guidance, they are intended to be

 protective of the vast majority of the aquatic communities in the United States.

2. Criteria Recommendations for Priority Pollutants, Non Priority Pollutants and Organoleptic Effects

This compilation lists all priority toxic pollutants and some non priority toxic pollutants, and both human health

 effect and organoleptic effect criteria issued pursuant to CWA §304(a). Blank spaces indicate that EPA has no

 CWA §304(a) criteria recommendations. For a number of non-priority toxic pollutants not listed, CWA §304(a)

 "water + organism" human health criteria are not available, but EPA has published MCLs under the SDWA that

 may be used in establishing water quality standards to protect water supply designated uses. Because of

 variations in chemical nomenclature systems, this listing of toxic pollutants does not duplicate the listing in

 Appendix A of 40 CFR Part 423. Also listed are the Chemical Abstracts Service CAS registry numbers, which

 provide a unique identification for each chemical.

3. Human Health Risk

The human health criteria for the priority and non priority pollutants are based on carcinogenicity of 10-6 risk.

 Alternate risk levels may be obtained by moving the decimal point (e.g., for a risk level of 10-5, move the

 decimal point in the recommended criterion one place to the right).

4. Water Quality Criteria published pursuant to Section 304(a) or Section 303(c) of the CWA

Many of the values in the compilation were published in the California Toxics Rule. Although such values were

 published pursuant to Section 303(c) of the CWA, they represent the Agency's most recent calculation of water

 quality criteria and are thus the Agency's 304(a) criteria.

5. Calculation of Dissolved Metals Criteria

The 304(a) criteria for metals, shown as dissolved metals, are calculated in one of two ways. For freshwater

 metals criteria that are hardness-dependent, the dissolved metal criteria were calculated using a hardness of

 100 mg/l as CaCO3 for illustrative purposes only. Saltwater and freshwater metals' criteria that are not
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 hardness-dependent are calculated by multiplying the total recoverable criteria before rounding by the

 appropriate conversion factors. The final dissolved metals' criteria in the table are rounded to two significant

 figures. Information regarding the calculation of hardness dependent conversion factors are included in the

 footnotes.

6. Maximum Contaminant Levels

The compilation includes footnotes for pollutants with Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) more stringent

 than the recommended water quality criteria in the compilation. MCLs for these pollutants are not included in

 the compilation, but can be found in the appropriate drinking water regulations (40 CFR 141.11-16 and

 141.60-63), or can be accessed through the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791 ) or online.

7. Organoleptic Effects

The compilation contains 304(a) criteria for pollutants with toxicity-based criteria as well as non-toxicity based

 criteria. The basis for the non-toxicity based criteria are organoleptic effects (e.g., taste and odor) which would

 make water and edible aquatic life unpalatable but not toxic to humans. The table includes criteria for

 organoleptic effects for 23 pollutants. Pollutants with organoleptic effect criteria more stringent than the

 criteria based on toxicity (e.g., included in both the priority and non-priority pollutant tables) are footnoted as

 such.

8. Gold Book

The "Gold Book" is Quality Criteria for Water: 1986. EPA 440/5-86-001.

9. Correction of Chemical Abstract Services Number

The Chemical Abstract Services number (CAS) for Bis(2-Chlorisoprpyl) Ether, has been revised in IRIS and in the

 table. The correct CAS number for this chemical is 108-60-1. The previous CAS number for this pollutant was

 39638-32-9.

10. Contaminants with Blanks

EPA has not calculated criteria for contaminants with blanks. However, permit authorities should address these

 contaminants in NPDES permit actions using the States' existing narrative criteria for toxics.

11. Specific Chemical Calculations

Selenium—Aquatic Life

This compilation contains aquatic life criteria for selenium that are the same as those published in the proposed

 CTR. In the CTR, EPA proposed an acute criterion for selenium based on the criterion proposed for selenium in

 the Water Quality Guidance for the Great Lakes System (61 FR 58444). The GLI and CTR proposals take into

 account data showing that selenium's two prevalent oxidation states in water, selenite and selenate, present

 differing potentials for aquatic toxicity, as well as new data indicating that various forms of selenium are

 additive. The new approach produces a different selenium acute criterion concentration, or CMC, depending

 upon the relative proportions of selenite, selenate, and other forms of selenium that are present.

EPA is currently undertaking a reassessment of selenium, and expects the 304(a) criteria for selenium will be

 revised based on the final reassessment (63 FR 26186). However, until such time as revised water quality

 criteria for selenium are published by the Agency, the recommended water quality criteria in this compilation

 are EPA's current 304(a) criteria.

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Appendix A—Conversion Factors for Dissolved Metals

Metal Conversion Factor

freshwater CMC freshwater CCC saltwater

 CMC

saltwater

 CCC1

Arsenic 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000

Cadmium 1.136672-[(ln hardness)

(0.041838)]

1.101672-[(ln hardness)

(0.041838)]

0.994 0.994
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Chromium

 III

0.316 0.860 — —

Chromium

 VI

0.982 0.962 0.993 0.993

Copper 0.960 0.960 0.83 0.83

Lead 1.46203-[(ln hardness)(0.145712)] 1.46203-[(ln hardness)(0.145712)] 0.951 0.951

Mercury 0.85 0.85 0.85 0.85

Nickel 0.998 0.997 0.990 0.990

Selenium — — 0.998 0.998

Silver 0.85 — 0.85 —

Zinc 0.978 0.986 0.946 0.946

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Appendix B—Parameters for Calculating Freshwater Dissolved Metals Criteria That Are

 Hardness-Dependent

Chemical mA bA mC bC Freshwater Conversion Factors (CF)

CMC CCC

Cadmium 1.0166 -3.924 0.7409 -4.719 1.136672-[(lnhardness)

(0.041838)]

1.101672-[(lnhardness)

(0.041838)]

Chromium

 III

0.8190 3.7256 0.8190 0.6848 0.316 0.860

Copper 0.9422 -1.700 0.8545 -1.702 0.960 0.960

Lead 1.273 -1.460 1.273 -4.705 1.46203-[(lnhardness)

(0.145712)]

1.46203-[(lnhardness)

(0.145712)]

Nickel 0.8460 2.255 0.8460 0.0584 0.998 0.997

Silver 1.72 -6.59 — — 0.85 —

Zinc 0.8473 0.884 0.8473 0.884 0.978 0.986

Hardness-dependant metals' criteria may be calculated from the following:

CMC (dissolved) = exp{mA

 [ln(hardness)]+ bA} (CF)

CCC (dissolved) = exp{mC

 [ln(hardness)]+ bC} (CF)

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The Gold Book

Quality Criteria for Water, 1986 (PDF) (477 pp., 4.6 MB) May 1986

The Red Book

Quality Criteria for Water, 1976 (PDF) (534 pp., 6.2 MB) July 1976

Chemical Specific Criteria Documents from the 1980s

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Last updated on Monday, June 29, 2015