An evaluation of water chemistry in freshwater streams indicated the following results. Most recent data are from 1995 to 1997. This is consistent with reductions in ammonia in sewage effluent. Nitrate in finished drinking water consistently met drinking water standards between 1995 and 1998. However, nitrate in surface water used for water supplies was identified as an emerging issue.
Levels are still higher than desired in some streams, however.
Additional efforts are underway to determine whether and where eutrophication is occurring. Reduction measures will be implemented through watershed management. Assessment is based on monitoring at 75 stations between 1995 and 1997 for bacteria levels. These data do not evaluate risks to human health from swimming in rivers and streams because monitoring stations are not necessarily located where swimming and secondary contact occur. Many of the State's urban rivers cannot support swimming uses because of elevated bacteria levels.