Alabama Administrative Code › Title 335 - ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT › WATER DIVISION - WATER QUALITY PROGRAM › Chapter 335-6-11 - WATER USE CLASSIFICATIONS FOR INTERSTATE AND INTRASTATE WATERS › Section 335-6-11-.01 - The Use Classification System

Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 9, June 28, 2024
(1) Use classifications utilized by the State
				of Alabama are as follows:
Outstanding Alabama Water
								...................
OAW
Public Water Supply
								.........................
PWS
Swimming and Other Whole Body
Shellfish Harvesting
								........................
SH
Fish and Wildlife
								...........................
F&W
Limited Warmwater Fishery
								...................
LWF
Agricultural and Industrial
Water Supply
								................................
A&I
(2)
				Use classifications apply water quality criteria adopted for particular uses
				based on existing utilization, uses reasonably expected in the future, and
				those uses not now possible because of correctable pollution but which could be
				made if the effects of pollution were controlled or eliminated. Of necessity,
				the assignment of use classifications must take into consideration the physical
				capability of waters to meet certain uses.
(3) Those use classifications presently
				included in the standards are reviewed informally by the Department's staff as
				the need arises, and the entire standards package, to include the use
				classifications, receives a formal review at least once every three years.
				Efforts currently underway through local 201 planning projects will provide
				additional technical data on certain waterbodies in the State, information on
				treatment alternatives, and applicability of various management techniques,
				which, when available, will hopefully lead to new decisions regarding use
				classifications. Of particular interest are those segments which are currently
				classified for any usage which has an associated degree of quality criteria
				considered to be less than that applicable to a classification of "Fish and
				Wildlife." As rapidly as it can be demonstrated that new classifications are
				feasible and attainable on these segments from an economic and technological
				viewpoint, based on the information being generated pursuant to water quality
				studies and the planning efforts previously outlined, such improvement will be
				proposed. For those segments where such a demonstration cannot be made, use
				attainability analyses describing in detail the factors preventing attainment
				of the "Fish and Wildlife" use will be prepared pursuant to federal
				requirements and updated as new information becomes available.
(4) Although it is not explicitly stated in
				the classifications, it should be understood that the use classification of
				"Shellfish Harvesting" is only applicable in the coastal area and, therefore,
				is included only in the Mobile River Basin, Escatawpa River Basin, and the
				Perdido River Basin. It should also be noted that with the exception of those
				segments in the "Public Water Supply" classification, every segment, in
				addition to being considered acceptable for its designated use, is also
				considered acceptable for any other use with a less stringent associated
				criteria.
(5) Not all waters are
				included by name in the use classifications since it would be a tremendous
				administrative burden to list all waterbody segments in the State. In addition,
				in virtually every instance where a segment is not included by name, the
				Department has no information or waterbody data upon which to base a decision
				relative to the assignment of a particular classification. An effort has been
				made, however, to include all major waterbody segments and all segments that,
				to the Department's knowledge, are currently recipients of point source
				discharges. Those segments which are not included by name will be considered to
				be acceptable for a "Fish and Wildlife" classification unless it can be
				demonstrated that such a generalization is inappropriate in specific
				instances.
Authors:
James E. Mclndoe, Chris L.
					 Johnson
Statutory Authority:
Code of Ala.
					 1975
, §§
											22-22-9,
					 22-22A-5,
					 22-22A-6,
					 22-22A-8.