Iowa Administrative Code › Agency 567 - Environmental Protection Commission › Title IV - Wastewater Treatment and Disposal › Chapter 61 - Water Quality Standards › Rule 567-61.3 - Surface Water Quality Criteria

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 3, July 24, 2024
(1)
Surface water
				classification.
All waters of the state are classified for protection
				of beneficial uses. These classified waters include general use segments and
				designated use segments.
a.
General
				use segments.
These are intermittent watercourses and those
				watercourses which typically flow only for short periods of time following
				precipitation and whose channels are normally above the water table. These
				waters do not support a viable aquatic community during low flow and do not
				maintain pooled conditions during periods of no flow.
The general use segments are to be protected for livestock
				  and wildlife watering, aquatic life, noncontact recreation, crop irrigation,
				  and industrial, agricultural, domestic and other incidental water withdrawal
				  uses.
b.
Designated
				use segments.
These are water bodies which maintain flow throughout
				the year or contain sufficient pooled areas during intermittent flow periods to
				maintain a viable aquatic community.
All perennial rivers and streams as identified by the U.S.
				  Geological Survey 1:100,000 DLG Hydrography Data Map (published July 1993) or
				  intermittent streams with perennial pools in Iowa not specifically listed in
				  the surface water classification of 61.3(5) are designated as Class B(WW-1)
				  waters.
All perennial rivers and streams as identified by the U.S.
				  Geological Survey 1:100,000 DLG Hydrography Data Map (published July 1993) or
				  intermittent streams with perennial pools in Iowa are designated as Class Al
				  waters.
Designated uses of segments may change based on a use
				  attainability analysis consistent with 61.2(5)
"e."
Designated
				  use changes will be specifically listed in the surface water classification of
				  61.3(5).
Designated use waters are to be protected for all uses of
				  general use segments in addition to the specific uses assigned. Designated use
				  segments include:
(1) Primary contact
				recreational use (Class "Al"). Waters in which recreational or other uses may
				result in prolonged and direct contact with the water, involving considerable
				risk of ingesting water in quantities sufficient to pose a health hazard. Such
				activities would include, but not be limited to, swimming, diving, water
				skiing, and water contact recreational canoeing.
(2) Secondary contact recreational use (Class
				"A2"). Waters in which recreational or other uses may result in contact with
				the water that is either incidental or accidental. During the recreational use,
				the probability of ingesting appreciable quantities of water is minimal. Class
				A2 uses include fishing, commercial and recreational boating, any limited
				contact incidental to shoreline activities and activities in which users do not
				swim or float in the water body while on a boating activity.
(3) Children's recreational use (Class "A3").
				Waters in which recreational uses by children are common. Class A3 waters are
				water bodies having definite banks and bed with visible evidence of the flow or
				occurrence of water. This type of use would primarily occur in urban or
				residential areas.
(4) Cold water
				aquatic life-Type 1 (Class "B(CW1)"). Waters in which the temperature and flow
				are suitable for the maintenance of a variety of cold water species, including
				reproducing and nonreproducing populations of trout
(Salmonidae
family) and associated aquatic communities.
(5) Cold water aquatic life-Type 2 (Class
				"B(CW2)"). Waters that include small, channeled streams, headwaters, and spring
				runs that possess natural cold water attributes of temperature and flow. These
				waters usually do not support consistent populations of
				trout
(Salmonidae
family), but may support associated
				vertebrate and invertebrate organisms.
(6) Warm water-Type 1 (Class "B(WW-1)").
				Waters in which temperature, flow and other habitat characteristics are
				suitable to maintain warm water game fish populations along with a resident
				aquatic community that includes a variety of native nongame fish and
				invertebrate species. These waters generally include border rivers, large
				interior rivers, and the lower segments of medium-size tributary
				streams.
(7) Warm water-Type 2
				(Class "B(WW-2)"). Waters in which flow or other physical characteristics are
				capable of supporting a resident aquatic community that includes a variety of
				native nongame fish and invertebrate species. The flow and other physical
				characteristics limit the maintenance of warm water game fish populations.
				These waters generally consist of small perennially flowing streams.
(8) Warm water-Type 3 (Class "B(WW-3)").
				Waters in which flow persists during periods when antecedent soil moisture and
				groundwater discharge levels are adequate; however, aquatic habitat typically
				consists of nonflowing pools during dry periods of the year. These waters
				generally include small streams of marginally perennial aquatic habitat status.
				Such waters support a limited variety of native fish and invertebrate species
				that are adapted to survive in relatively harsh aquatic conditions.
(9) Lakes and wetlands (Class "B(LW)"). These
				are artificial and natural impoundments with hydraulic retention times and
				other physical and chemical characteristics suitable to maintain a balanced
				community normally associated with lake-like conditions.
(10) Human health (Class "HH"). Waters in
				which fish are routinely harvested for human consumption or waters both
				designated as a drinking water supply and in which fish are routinely harvested
				for human consumption.
(11)
				Drinking water supply (Class "C"). Waters which are used as a raw water source
				of potable water supply.