Nebraska Administrative Code › Topic - ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY › Title 117 - NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY › Chapter 4 - STANDARDS FOR WATER QUALITY › Section 117-4-003 - Aquatic Life

Current through June 17, 2024
003.01 General Criteria for Aquatic Life
The following criteria apply to all aquatic life use classes.
003.01A pH (Hydrogen Ion Concentration).
Hydrogen Ion concentrations, expressed as pH, are to be maintained
	 between 6.5 and 9.0; unless pH values outside this range are due to natural
	 conditions.
003.01B
  Temperature.
The temperature of a receiving water is not to be increased by a total
	 of more than 5°F (3°C) from natural background outside the mixing
	 zone.
For the Missouri River, from the South Dakota-Nebraska state line near
	 Ft. Randall Dam to Sioux City, Iowa, the maximum temperature limit is 85°F
	 (29°C) with an allowable change of 4°F (2°C) from natural
	 background. For cold waters, the maximum limit is 72°F (22°C) with an
	 allowable change of 5°F (3°C) from natural background. For warm waters,
	 the maximum limit is 90°F (32°C).
For impoundments, the temperature of the epilimnion of surface waters
	 is not to be raised more than 3°F (2°C) above that which existed before
	 the addition of heat of artificial origin. Unless a special study shows that
	 the discharge of heated effluent into the hypolimnion will be desirable, such
	 practice is not recommended and water for cooling should not be pumped from the
	 hypolimnion to be discharged to the same body of water.
003.01C Toxic Substances.
Surface waters are to be free from toxic substances, alone or in
	 combination with other substances, in concentrations that result in acute or
	 chronic toxicity to aquatic life, except as specified in Chapter 2. Toxic
	 substances are not to be present in concentrations that result in objectionable
	 tastes or significant bioaccumulation or biomagnification in aquatic organisms
	 which renders them unsuitable or unsafe for consumption. (In implementing these
	 criteria, the Department will follow procedures outlined in the State's
	 Continuing Planning Process which comply with the federal water quality
	 standards,
	 40
	 C.F.R. §
												131.11 (1987)).
003.01C1 The following numerical criteria for
  the protection of aquatic life and their uses (e.g., fish consumption) are not
  to be exceeded. Unless otherwise noted, criteria are based on total
  concentrations.
CRITERIA (µg/L)
POLLUTANT
Acute
Chronic
CAS No.
*
Pesticides:
Acrolein
3c
3d
107-02-8
Alachlor
760c
76d
15972-60-8
Aldrin
3.0a
0.0000077b,e
309-00-2
Atrazine
330c
12d
1912-24-9
100a
0.1b,e
608-73-1
Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH)-Technical
(Reserved)
0.0039b,e
319-84-6
alpha-Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH)
(Reserved)
0.14b,e
319-85-7
beta-Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH)
Carbaryl
2.1c
2.1d
63-25-2
Chlordane
2.4a
0.0032b,e
57-74-9
Chlorpyrifos
0.083c
0.041d
2921-88-2
DCPA1
(Reserved)
14,300d
1861-32-1
p,p'-Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane or
				  DDT4
1.1a
0.0003b,e
50-29-3
p,p'-Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene or DDT metabolite
				  (DDE)
1050a
0.00018b,e
72-55-9
p,p'-Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane or DDT metabolite (TDE,
				  DDD)
0.6a
0.0012b,e
72-54-8
Demeton
(Reserved)
0.1b
8065-48-3
Diazinon
0.17c
0.17d
333-41-5
Dieldrin
0.24a
0.000012b,e
60-57-1
Dioxin2
< 0.01a
0.000000051b,e
1746-01-6
alpha-Endosulfan
0.22a
0.056b
959-98-8
beta-Endosulfan
0.22a
0.056b
33213-65-9
Endosulfan sulfate
(Reserved)
40b,f
1031-07-8
Endrin
0.086a
0.03b,f
72-20-8
Endrin aldehyde
(Reserved)
1.0b,f
7421-93-4
Guthion
(Reserved)
0.01b
86-50-0
Heptachlor
0.52a
0.000059b,e
76-44-8
Heptachlor epoxide
0.52a
0.00032b,e
1024-57-3
Isophorone
117,000a
18,000b,e
78-59-1
gamma-Hexachlorocyclohexane
(HCH) or Lindane
0.95a
0.16b
58-89-9
Malathion
(Reserved)
0.1b
121-75-5
Methoxychlor
(Reserved)
0.02b,f
72-43-5
Metolachlor
390c
100d
51218-45-2
Metribuzin
(Reserved)
100d
21087-64-9
Mirex
(Reserved)
0.001d
2385-85-5
Parathion
0.065c
0.013d
56-38-2
Pentachlorophenol
e( 1.005(pH)- 4.869) c
e( 1.005(pH)-
					 5.134)0.4b,e
87-86-5
Propachlor
(Reserved)
8.0d
1918-16-7
Toxaphene
0.73c
0.0002d
8001-35-2
Tributyltin (TBT)
0.46c
0.072d
....
Chlorphenoxy Herbicide (2,4-D)
Reserved
12,000b,f
94-75-7
Chlorphenoxy Herbicide (2,4,5-TP) [Silvex]
Reserved
400b,f
93-72-1
Metals and Inorganics3
				  :
Aluminum
750c
87d
7429-90-5
Antimony
88c
30d
7440-36-0
Arsenic
340c
16.7b,e
7440-38-2
Beryllium
130a
5.3d
7440-41-7
Cadmium
(See Site-Specific or Aquatic Life Use Class Criteria)
7440-43-9
Chromium (III)
(See Site-Specific or Aquatic Life Use Class Criteria)
16065-83-1
Chromium (VI)
(See Site-Specific or Aquatic Life Use Class Criteria)
18540-29-9
Copper
( 0.960 e( 0.9422[ln
hardness
]- 1.700) c
(0. 960)e( 0.8545[ln
hardness
]-
					 1.702) d
7440-50-8
Cyanide
(See Site-Specific or Aquatic Life Use Class Criteria)
57-12-5
Iron
(Reserved)
1,000b
7439-89-6
Lead4
(CF) e(
					 1.273[ln
hardness
]- 1.460) c
(CF) e( 1.273[ln
hardness
]-
					 4.705) d
7439-92-1
Manganese
(Reserved)
1,000b
7439-96-5
Mercury5
1.4c
0.77d
7439-97-6
Nickel
(0. 998)e( 0.846[ln
hardness
]+
					 2.255) c
(0. 997)e( 0.846[ln
hardness
]+
					 0.0584) d
7440-02-0
Selenium
See 003.01C3
7782-49-2
Silver (0.
( 0.85)e( 1.72[ln
hardness
]-
					 6.59) c
(Reserved)
7440-22-4
Thallium
1400a
0.47b,f
7440-28-0
Zinc
( 0.978)e( 0.8473[ln
hardness
]+
					 0.884) c
( 0.986) 
				  ( 0.8473[ln
hardness
]+
					 0.884) d
7440-66-6
PCBs and Related Compounds:
PCBs
2.0a
0.00064b,e
.........
Chlorinated Naphthalenes
1,600a
43,000b,e
.........
Halogenated Aliphatics:
Halomethanes
11,000a
157b,e
.........
Bromoform
(Reserved)
1,200b,e
75-25-2
Methyl bromide
(Reserved)
10,000b,f
74-83-9
Chloroform
28,900a
1,240b
67-66-3
Carbon tetrachloride
35,200a
50b,e
56-23-5
Methylene chloride
(Reserved)
3,000b,f
75-09-2
1,2-dichloroethane
118,000a
6,500b,e
107-06-2
Hexachloroethane
980a
0.8b,f
67-72-1
Pentachloroethane
7,240a
1,100b
76-01-7
Trichlorinated ethanes
18,000a
(Reserved)
25323-89-1
1,1,1-trichloroethane
(Reserved)
200,000b,f
71-55-6
1,1,2-trichloroethane
(Reserved)
89b,e
79-00-5
Tetrachloroethanes
9,320a
(Reserved)
25322-20-7
1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane
(Reserved)
30b,e
79-34-5
Dichloroethylenes
11,600a
(Reserved)
25323-30-3
1,1-dichloroethylene
(Reserved)
20,000b,f
75-35-4
Trans-1,2-dichloroethylene
(Reserved)
4,000b,f
156-60-5
Tetrachloroethylene
5,280a
70b,f
127-18-4
Trichloroethylene
45,000a
30b,f
79-01-6
Chlorodibromomethane
(Reserved)
210b,e
124-48-1
Dichlorobromomethane
(Reserved)
270b,e
75-27-4
Dichloropropane
23,000a
5,700b
26638-19-7
1,2-dichloropropane
(Reserved)
310b,e
78-87-5
Dichloropropene
6,060a
244b
26952-23-8
1,3-dichloropropene
(Reserved)
120b,e
542-75-6
Hexachlorobutadiene
90a
0.02b,f
87-68-3
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene
7.0a
4.0b,f
77-47-4
Vinyl Chloride
(Reserved)
16b,e
75-01-4
Ethers:
(Reserved)
22b,e
111-44-4
Bis(2-chloroethyl) Ether
(Reserved)
4,000b,f
108-60-1
Bis(2-chloro-1-methylethyl) Ether
(Reserved)
0.17b,e
542-88-1
Bis(chloromethyl) Ether
Chloroalkyl ethers
238,000a
(Reserved)
.........
Haloethers
360a
122b
.........
Monocyclic Aromatics except Phenols, Cresols, and
				  Phthalates:
Benzene
5,300a
90b,f
71-43-2
Chlorinated benzenes
250a
50b
.........
Chlorobenzene
(Reserved)
800b,f
108-90-7
1,2-dichlorobenzene
(Reserved)
3,000b,f
95-50-1
1,3-dichlorobenzene
(Reserved)
10b,f
541-73-1
1,4,-dichlorobenzene
(Reserved)
900b,f
106-46-7
Ethylbenzene
32,000a
130b,f
100-41-4
Hexachlorobenzene
6.0a
0.00079b,e
118-74-1
Nitrobenzene
27,000a
600b,f
98-95-3
Pentachlorobenzene
(Reserved)
0.1b,f
608-93-5
1,2,4,5-tetrachlorobenzene
(Reserved)
0.03b,f
95-94-3
1,2,4-trichlorobenzene
(Reserved)
0.76b,e
120-82-1
Toluene
17,500a
520b,f
108-88-3
2,4-dinitrotoluene
330a
17b,e
121-14-2
Phenols and Cresols:
Phenol
10,200a
2,560b
108-95-2
2-chlorophenol
4,380a
800b,f
95-57-8
3-methyl-4-chlorophenol
30a
2,000b,f
59-50-7
2,4-dichlorophenol
2,020a
60b,f
120-83-2
2,4,5-trichlorophenol
100a
63b
95-95-4
2,4,6-trichlorophenol
(Reserved)
6b,f
88-06-2
Dinitrophenols
(Reserved)
1,000b,f
25550-58-7
Nitrophenols
230a
150b
.........
Nonylphenol
28c
6.6d
1044-05-1
2-methyl-4,6-dinitrophenol
(Reserved)
30b,f
534-52-1
2,4-dinitrophenol
(Reserved)
300b,f
51-28-5
2,4-dimethylphenol
2,120a
3,000b,f
105-67-9
Phthalate Esters:
Phthalate esters
940a
3.0b
.........
Butylbenzyl phthalate
(Reserved)
1.0b,e
85-68-7
Di-N-butyl phthalate
(Reserved)
30b,f
84-74-2
Diethyl phthalate
(Reserved)
600b,f
84-66-2
Bis(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate
2,000a
3.7b,e
117-81-7
Dimethyl phthalate
(Reserved)
2,000b,f
131-11-3
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
				  (PAHs):
Acenaphthene
1,700a
90b,f
83-32-9
Anthracene
(Reserved)
400b,f
120-12-7
Benzo(a)anthracene
(Reserved)
0.013b,e
56-55-3
Benzo(a)pyrene
(Reserved)
0.0013b,e
50-32-8
Benzo(b)fluoranthene
(Reserved)
0.013b,e
205-99-2
Benzo(k)fluoranthene
(Reserved)
0.13b,e
207-08-9
Chrysene
(Reserved)
1.3b,e
218-01-9
Dibenzo(a,h)anthracene
(Reserved)
0.0013b,e
53-70-3
Fluoranthene
3,980a
20b,f
206-44-0
Fluorene
(Reserved)
70b,f
86-73-7
Indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene
(Reserved)
0.013b,e
193-39-5
Naphthalene
2,300a
620b
91-20-3
2-chloronaphthalene
1,600a
1,000b,f
91-58-7
Phenanthrene
30a
6.3b
85-01-8
Pyrene
(Reserved)
30b,f
129-00-0
Nitrosamines and other Nitrogen-containing
				  Compounds:
Nitrosamines
5,850a
12.4b,e
.........
Benzidine
2,500a
0.11b,e
92-87-5
3,3'-dichlorobenzidine
(Reserved)
1.5b,e
91-94-1
1,2-diphenylhydrazine
270a
2.0b,e
122-66-7
Acrylonitrile
7,550a
70b,e
107-13-1
N-nitrosodibutylamine
(Reserved)
2.2b,e
924-16-3
N-nitrosodiethylamine
(Reserved)
12.4b,e
55-18-5
N-nitrosodimethylamine
(Reserved)
30b,e
62-75-9
N-nitrosodiphenylamine
(Reserved)
60b,e
86-30-6
N-nitrosodi-N-propylamine
(Reserved)
5.1b,e
621-64-7
N-nitrosopyrrolidine
(Reserved)
340b,e
930-55-2
* Chemical Abstract Services Registry
	 Number
a Concentration not to be exceeded at any
	 time
b Twenty-four hour average
	 concentration
c One-hour average concentration
d Four-day average concentration
e Human health criteria at the
	 10-5 risk level for carcinogens based on the
	 consumption of fish and other aquatic organisms
f Human health criteria based on the
	 consumption of fish and other aquatic organisms
1 Dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate
2 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin or
	 2,3,7,8-TCDD
3 Criteria for metals and inorganics apply
	 to dissolved concentrations
4 The conversion factor for lead (acute and
	 chronic) is hardness dependent and defined by:
CF = 1.46203- [(ln
hardness
)( 0.145712)]
5 Chronic criterion for mercury applies to
	 total recoverable concentrations
003.01C2 The following criteria for the
  protection of human health based on consumption of fish and other aquatic
  organisms are not to be exceeded. These criteria are expressed as fish tissue
  concentrations (mg/kg fish).
POLLUTANT
CRITERIA (mg/kg)
CAS
				  No.*
Methylmercury
0.215
22967-92-6
* Chemical Abstract Services Registry
	 Number
003.01C3 The
  following Selenium criteria are for the protection of aquatic life. These
  criteria are expressed preferentially as fish tissue concentrations (mg/kg
  fish), followed by water column concentrations (mg/L) in the absence of fish
  tissue information.
POLLUTANT
CAS
				  No.*
Selenium
7782-49-2
FISH TISSUE1
				  CRITERIA
WATER COLUMN4
				  CRITERIA
Criterion Element
Egg/Ovary2
Fish Whole Body or
Muscle3
Thirty-day average
Intermittent Exposure5
Magnitude
15.1 mg/kg
8.5 mg/kg whole body
or
11.3 mg/kg
				  muscle
1.5 µg/L in lakes and reservoirs 3.1 µg/L in
				  streams and rivers
WOCint = WQC30-day -
				  Cbkgrnd(1-
f
int)
f
int
Duration
Instantaneous measurement6
Instantaneous measurement6
30 days
Number of days/month with an elevated concentration
Frequency
Not to be exceeded
Not to be exceeded
Not more than once in three years on average
Not more than once in three years on average
1. Fish tissue elements are expressed as
	 steady-state.
2. Egg/Ovary supersedes any whole-body,
	 muscle, or water column element when fish egg/ovary concentrations are
	 measured.
3. Fish whole-body or muscle tissue
	 supersedes water column element when both fish tissue and water column
	 concentrations are measured.
4. Water column values are based on
	 dissolved total selenium in water and are derived from fish tissue values via
	 bioaccumulation modeling. Water column values are the applicable criterion
	 element in the absence of steady-state condition fish tissue data.
5. Where WQC30-day is the water column
	 monthly element, for either a lake or stream; Cbkgrnd is the average background
	 selenium concentration, and
f
int is the fraction of any 30-day
	 period during which elevated selenium concentrations occur, with
f
int assigned a value >= 0.033 (corresponding to 1
	 day).
6. Fish tissue data provide instantaneous
	 point measurements that reflect integrative accumulation of selenium over time
	 and space in fish populations at a given site.
* Chemical Abstract Services Registry
	 Number
003.01D
  Petroleum Oil.
Not to exceed 10 mg/L.
003.01E Total Dissolved Gases.
Not to exceed 110 percent of the saturation value for gases at the
	 existing atmospheric and hydrostatic pressures.
003.01F Hydrogen Sulfide.
Not to exceed 0.002 mg/L as undissociated hydrogen
	 sulfide.
003.01G Chloride.
Not to exceed 860 mg/L at any time or a four-day average concentration
	 of 230 mg/L except as specified in 003.02B2 (Site-specific
	 criteria).
003.01H
  Alkalinity
No less than 20 mg/L as CaCO3 except where
	 natural background is less.
003.01I Residual Chlorine.
003.01I1 One-hour average concentration not
  to exceed 19 µg/L.
003.01I2
  Four-day average concentration not to exceed 11 µg/L.
003.01J Biological
  Criteria.
Any human activity causing water pollution which would significantly
	 degrade the biological integrity of a body of water or significantly impact or
	 displace an identified "key species" will not be allowed except as specified in
	 Chapter 2.
003.01J1 Key Species.
Key species are identified endangered, threatened, sensitive, or
	 recreationally-important aquatic species. Key species are designated by stream
	 segment (Chapter 5).