### 9/10/2014 Water Quality Standards Handbook 

## 1Handbook 

## 1US EPA htlp://walllr.epa.gov/scllllch/rrwguldanca/standardlllhandbook/lndex.cfm



## Water: Handbook You are here: 

## .l!Ymm » Science & Tec!Jnolooy » SurfaceWater standards & Guidance »Water Quality Standards »Water Quality Standards Handbook 

# Water Quality Standards Handbook NEW IN 2014: UPDATED CHAPTERS
The 

### Water Qualitystandards Handbookis a compilation 

### ofthe EPA's watar quality standards (WQS) program guidance including recommendations for

### statas, authorized tribes, and tarritories in reviewing, revising, and implementing WQS. The guidance in this Handbook supports the EPA'sWQS regulations at40 CFR part 131. The 

### Water Qualitystandards Handbook

### was first issued in 1983 and provided a compilation 

### ofthe EPA's WQS guidance to-date. In 1994, The 

### Water Qualitystandards Handbook: SecondEdition was issued and rBtained all 

### ofthe guidance in the 1983 Handbook unless such guidance was specifically revised in subsequentyears. The 1994 Handbook also contained new EPA guidance thatwas developed between 1983 and 1994. In 2007 and 2012, the EPA updated the online version 

### ofthe Handbookto incorporate minor enhancements including links to additional information and resources that the EPAdeveloped subsequent to 1994. However, the text

### ofthe chapters did not change from the 1994 Handbook. In 2014, the EPA updated the online version 

### ofthe Handbook

### to raflacl: amant EPA guidance and streamlined the textto makethedocument more userfriendly. The2014 update also reflects currant technology that allows the Handbook to serve as an online "living document.• 

### As such, the EPAwill updatetheonline Handbook as new guidance becomes available and will not publish a new printed edition. Foranyquestions related to the guidance in this Handbook, please contact us. Copies 

### ofany referenced document can be obtained by clicking on the hyper!ink orvisiting the 

## Policv and Guidance: Befetvnce 

### Ubratywabpage. 

# Browse the Water Quality Standards Handbook

• Chapter 1: General Provisions 1 Print Version CPDFl (18 pp. 9891<) (updated 8/1994) • ChaDier 2· Designation 

## of Uses 

## I prjntYersjon <PPFl (22 pp, 845KJ (updated 811994) • Chapter 3: Water quality Criteria 1 Print Version !PDF> (38 pp, 7831<) (updated 8/1994) • ChaDier 4· Antjdegradation 

## I Print\fersjon cpDFl (11 

### pp, 6491<) (updated 811994) • Chapter 5: General Policies 1 PrintVersion CPDFl (14 pp, 718K) (updated 811994) • Chapter 6: Provision for Review and Revision ofWater Quality Standards 

### 1

PrintVersion CPDFl (9 

### pp, 6611<) (updated 812014) • Chapter 7· Thewater-Qyaljtv Based Agoroach to Pollutjon Control 

## I prjnt\fersjon CPDEl (1

## opp, 8991<) (updated 811994) • Chapter 8: Requirements for Indian Tribes

• Cover Page. Tabla 

### ofContents, and Glossarv CPDFl (21 pp, 126MB) • References CPDEl (10 pp, 6501<) • Appendices

o Appendix A: Water Qyalitv Standards Reoylation !pQFl (2.3MB) o Appendix B: Chronoloolcal Summary

### of Federal Waler Qualltv Standards promulgation 

## Acts fPDFl (2421<) o Appendix C: Bjo!ogjcal Cdterja· National Program Gyjdance for Surface Waters CPPEl (4.5MB) o Appendix D: National Guidance: Watar Quality Standards forWetlands !PDFl (4.5MB) o Appendix E: An Agomacb fur Evaluating NymerjcWater Qyality Cdterja furWeUands Prolection cppFl (2.9MB) o Appendix F: Coordination batwean the EPA. Fish 

### & Wildlife Services and National Marina Fisheries Service CPDFl (8861<) o Appendix G: QuesJjgns and Answers gn Antidearadation CPPEl (1.3MB) o Appendix H: Derivation 

## ofth& 1985 AQuatic Life Criteria CPDFl (1.5MB) o Appendix 

### 1: list

## of EPA Wa\er Qyalitv Cdterja Documents <PQFl (2241<) You will 

### need Adobe Reader 

### to viewsoma 

### ofthe filss on this page. See EPA's PDF .llii!HI

### to learn more.

You will 

### need Adobe Reader 

### to viewsome 

### ofthe ftles on this page. See EPA's PDF**~to** 

### learn more.

o Appendix

### J: Altachments 

## of O!lice toWater Policy and Technical Guidance on lnteroretation and lmolementalion 

## ofAquatic Life Metals Criteria CPDFl (UMB) o Appendix 

### K: Procedures forthe Initiation 

### of Narrative Bioloaical Criteria !PDFl (1.1MB) o Appendix L: ln!f!rim Guidance on Dat&rmination and usa

## of Water-E!fect Ratio§ for Metal• CPDFl (13.3MB) o Appendix M: Economic Guidance forWater Quality Standards o Appendix N: lntegralad Rjsk lnfonnatjon 5vatem Backoroynd Paoer CPDEl (1.0MB) o Appendix 

### 0: Reserved !PDF) (22K) o Appendix P: 

### list

## of 126 CWA Section 307Cal PdorjtyJgxjc Pollutants cppFl (150K) o Appendix Q: Wetlands and 401 Certification CPDFl (4.BMB) o Appendix R: Policy 0 n the yse 

### of Bjo!ggjcal AsseHmenls and Cd!f!ria jn theWater Qyality Prooram CPDEl (1.1 MBJ o Appendix S: Reserved (pDF){22K) o Appendix T: Use Altajnabiljty Analvsjs !pQFl (4.1 MB) o Appendix U: List 

## of EPA Reolonal Water aualttv Standards Coordinators CPDFl (981<) o Appendix V: Water Qyaljty Standards Prooram pgcyment Reqyest Forms CPPEl (9841<) o Appendix W: Uodate Request Form forWQS Handbook: 2nd EdiUon (PDF) (99K) 

### http://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/standards/handbooklindax.cfm 

### 112