The objectives are the guidelines modified or adopted to protect the most sensitive designated water use in a particular body of water. The objectives are used in the preparation of waste management plans, pollution prevention plans, waste management permits, orders or approvals. The latter three are the only documents that have legal status. The guidelines are also used in contaminated site remediation. Revised interim BC guidelines based on review of CCME Water Quality Guidelines for Ethylbenzene 2.
All guidelines are maximum values.
The process for establishing water quality objectives is more fully outlined in Principles for Preparing Water Quality Objectives in British Columbia , copies of which are available from Water Quality Section of the Water Management Branch. Neither guidelines nor objectives which are derived from them, have any legal standing. The objectives, however, can be used to calculate allowable limits or levels for contaminants in waste discharges. These limits are set out in waste management permits and thus have legal standing. The objectives are not usually incorporated as conditions of the permit.