Washington Administrative Code › Title 173 - Ecology, Department of (See also Titles 197, 317, 372, and 508) › Chapter 173-201A - Water quality standards for surface waters of the state of Washington › Part II - DESIGNATED USES AND CRITERIA › Section 173-201A-240 - Toxic substances

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1)
				Toxic substances shall not be introduced above natural background levels in
				waters of the state which have the potential either singularly or cumulatively
				to adversely affect characteristic water uses, cause acute or chronic toxicity
				to the most sensitive biota dependent upon those waters, or adversely affect
				public health, as determined by the department.
(2) The department shall employ or require
				chemical testing, acute and chronic toxicity testing, and biological
				assessments, as appropriate, to evaluate compliance with subsection (1) of this
				section and to ensure that aquatic communities and the existing and designated
				uses of waters are being fully protected.
(3) USEPA Quality Criteria for Water, 1986,
				as revised, shall be used in the use and interpretation of the values listed in
				subsection (5) of this section.
(4)
				Concentrations of toxic, and other substances with toxic propensities not
				listed in Table 240 of this section shall be determined in consideration of
				USEPA Quality Criteria for Water, 1986, and as revised, and other relevant
				information as appropriate.
(5) The
				following criteria, found in Table 240, shall be applied to all surface waters
				of the state of Washington. Values are µg/L for all substances except
				ammonia and chloride which are mg/L, and asbestos which is million fibers/L.
				The department shall formally adopt any appropriate revised criteria as part of
				this chapter in accordance with the provisions established in chapter 34.05
				RCW, the Administrative Procedure Act. The department shall ensure there are
				early opportunities for public review and comment on proposals to develop
				revised criteria.
(a)
Aquatic life
				protection
. The department may revise the criteria in Table 240 for
				aquatic life on a statewide or water body-specific basis as needed to protect
				aquatic life occurring in waters of the state and to increase the technical
				accuracy of the criteria being applied. The department shall formally adopt any
				appropriate revised criteria as part of this chapter in accordance with the
				provisions established in chapter 34.05 RCW, the Administrative Procedure
				Act.
(b)
Human health
				protection.
The following provisions apply to the human health criteria
				in Table 240. All waters shall maintain a level of water quality when entering
				downstream waters that provides for the attainment and maintenance of the water
				quality standards of those downstream waters, including the waters of another
				state. The human health criteria in the tables were calculated using a fish
				consumption rate of 175 g/day. Criteria for carcinogenic substances were
				calculated using a cancer risk level equal to one-in-one-million, or as
				otherwise specified in this chapter. The human health criteria calculations and
				variables include chronic durations of exposure up to seventy years. All human
				health criteria for metals are for total metal concentrations, unless otherwise
				noted. Dischargers have the obligation to reduce toxics in discharges through
				the use of AKART.
Table 240 Toxics Substances Criteria
Compound/Chemical
Chemical Abstracts Service
						  (CAS)#
Category
Aquatic Life Criteria -
						  Freshwater
Aquatic Life Criteria -Marine
						  Water
Human Health Criteria for Consumption
						  of:
Acute
Chronic
Acute
Chronic
Water & Organisms
Organisms Only
Metals:
Antimony
7440360
Metals, cyanide, and total phenols
-
-
-
-
12
180
Arsenic
7440382
Metals, cyanide, and total phenols
360.0 (c,dd)
190.0 (d,dd)
69.0 (c,ll,dd)
36.0 (d,cc,ll,dd)
10 (A)
10 (A)
Asbestos
1332214
Toxic pollutants and hazardous substances
-
-
-
-
7,000,000 fibers/L (C)
-
Beryllium
7440417
Metals, cyanide, and total phenols
-
-
-
-
-
-
Cadmium
7440439
Metals, cyanide, and total phenols
(i,c,dd)
(j,d,dd)
42.0 (c,dd)
9.3 (d,dd)
-
-
Chromium (III)
16065831
Metals, cyanide, and total phenols
(m,c,gg)
(n,d,gg)
-
-
-
-
Chromium (VI)
18540299
Metals, cyanide, and total phenols
15.0 (c,l,ii,dd)
10.0 (d,jj,dd)
1,100.0 (c,l,ll,dd)
50.0 (d,ll,dd)
-
-
Copper
7440508
Metals, cyanide, and total phenols
(o,c,dd)
(p,d,dd)
4.8 (c,ll,dd)
3.1 (d,ll,dd)
1,300 (C)
-
Lead
7439921
Metals, cyanide, and total phenols
(q,c,dd)
(r,d,dd)
210.0 (c,ll,dd)
8.1 (d,ll,dd)
-
-
Mercury
7439976
Metals, cyanide, and total phenols
2.1 (c,kk,dd)
0.012 (d,ff,s)
1.8 (c,ll,dd)
0.025 (d,ff,s)
(G)
(G)
Methylmercury
22967926
Nonconventional
-
-
-
-
-
-
Nickel
7440020
Metals, cyanide, and total phenols
(t,c,dd)
(u,d,dd)
74.0 (c,ll,dd)
8.2 (d,ll,dd)
150
190
Selenium
7782492
Metals, cyanide, and total phenols
20.0 (c,ff)
5.0 (d,ff)
290 (c,ll,dd)
71.0 (d,x,ll,dd)
120
480
Silver
7440224
Metals, cyanide, and total phenols
(y,a,dd)
-
1.9 (a,ll,dd)
-
-
-
Thallium
7440280
Metals, cyanide, and total phenols
-
-
-
-
0.24
0.27
Zinc
7440666
Metals, cyanide, and total phenols
(aa,c,dd)
(bb,d,dd)
90.0 (c,ll,dd)
81.0 (d,ll,dd)
2,300
2,900
Other chemicals:
1,1,1-Trichloroethane
71556
Volatile
-
-
-
-
47,000
160,000
1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane
79345
Volatile
-
-
-
-
0.12 (B)
0.46 (B)
1,1,2-Trichloroethane
79005
Volatile
-
-
-
-
0.44 (B)
1.8 (B)
1,1-Dichloroethane
75343
Volatile
-
-
-
-
-
-
1,1-Dichloroethylene
75354
Volatile
-
-
-
-
1200
4100
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene
120821
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
0.12 (B)
0.14 (B)
1,2-Dichlorobenzene
95501
Volatile
-
-
-
-
2000
2500
1,2-Dichloroethane
107062
Volatile
-
-
-
-
9.3 (B)
120 (B)
1,2-Dichloropropane
78875
Volatile
-
-
-
-
0.71 (B)
3.1 (B)
1,3-Dichloropropene
542756
Volatile
-
-
-
-
0.24 (B)
2 (B)
1,2-Diphenylhydrazine
122667
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
0.015 (B)
0.023 (B)
1,2-Trans-Dichloroethylene
156605
Volatile
-
-
-
-
600
5,800
1,3-Dichlorobenzene
541731
Volatile
-
-
-
-
13
16
1,4-Dichlorobenzene
106467
Volatile
-
-
-
-
460
580
2,3,7,8-TCDD (Dioxin)
1746016
Dioxin
-
-
-
-
0.000000064
0.000000064
2,4,6-Trichlorophenol
88062
Acid compounds
-
-
-
-
0.25 (B)
0.28 (B)
2,4-Dichlorophenol
120832
Acid compounds
-
-
-
-
25
34
2,4-Dimethylphenol
105679
Acid compounds
-
-
-
-
85
97
2,4-Dinitrophenol
51285
Acid compounds
-
-
-
-
60
610
2,4-Dinitrotoluene
121142
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
0.039 (B)
0.18 (B)
2,6-Dinitrotoluene
606202
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
-
-
2-Chloroethyvinyl Ether
110758
Volatile
-
-
-
-
-
-
2-Chloronaphthalene
91587
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
170
180
2-Chlorophenol
95578
Acid compounds
-
-
-
-
15
17
2-Methyl-4,6-Dinitrophenol
							 (4,6-dinitro-o-cresol)
534521
Acid compounds
-
-
-
-
7.1
25
2-Nitrophenol
88755
Acid compounds
-
-
-
-
-
-
3,3'-Dichlorobenzidine
91941
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
0.0031 (B)
0.0033 (B)
3-Methyl-4-Chlorophenol (parachlorometa
							 cresol)
59507
Acid compounds
-
-
-
-
36
36
4,4'-DDD
72548
Pesticides/PCBs
-
-
-
-
0.000036 (B)
0.000036 (B)
4,4'-DDE
72559
Pesticides/PCBs
-
-
-
-
0.000051 (B)
0.000051 (B)
4,4'-DDT
50293
Pesticides/PCBs
-
-
-
-
0.000025 (B)
0.000025 (B)
4,4'-DDT(and metabolites)
Pesticides/PCBs
1.1 (a)
0.001 (b)
0.13 (a)
0.001 (b)
-
-
4-Bromophenyl Phenyl Ether
101553
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
-
-
4-Chorophenyl Phenyl Ether
7005723
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
-
-
4-Nitrophenol
100027
Acid compounds
-
-
-
-
-
-
Acenaphthene
83329
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
110
110
Acenaphthylene
208968
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
-
-
Acrolein
107028
Volatile
-
-
-
-
1.0
1.1
Acrylonitrile
107131
Volatile
-
-
-
-
0.019 (B)
0.028 (B)
Aldrin
309002
Pesticides/PCBs
2.5 (a, e)
0.0019 (b,e)
0.71 (a,e)
0.0019 (b,e)
0.0000057 (B)
0.0000058 (B)
alpha-BHC
319846
Pesticides/PCBs
-
-
-
-
0.0005 (B)
0.00056 (B)
alpha-Endosulfan
959988
Pesticides/PCBs
-
-
-
-
9.7
10
Anthracene
120127
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
3,100
4,600
Benzene
71432
Volatile
-
-
-
-
0.44 (B)
1.6 (B)
Benzidine
92875
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
0.00002 (B)
0.000023 (B)
Benzo(a) Anthracene
56553
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
0.014 (B)
0.021 (B)
Benzo(a) Pyrene
50328
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
0.0014 (B)
0.0021 (B)
Benzo(b) Fluoranthene
205992
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
0.014 (B)
0.021 (B)
Benzo(ghi) Perylene
191242
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
-
-
Benzo(k) Fluoranthene
207089
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
0.014 (B)
0.21 (B)
beta-BHC
319857
Pesticides/PCBs
-
-
-
-
0.0018 (B)
0.002 (B)
beta-Endosulfan
33213659
Pesticides/PCBs
-
-
-
-
9.7
10
Bis(2-Chloroethoxy) Methane
111911
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
-
-
Bis(2-Chloroethyl) Ether
111444
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
0.02 (B)
0.06 (B)
Bis(2-Chloroisopropyl) Ether
39638329
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
-
-
Bis(2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate
117817
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
0.23 (B)
0.25 (B)
Bromoform
75252
Volatile
-
-
-
-
5.8 (B)
27 (B)
Butylbenzyl Phthalate
85687
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
0.56 (B)
0.58 (B)
Carbon Tetrachloride
56235
Volatile
-
-
-
-
0.2 (B)
0.35 (B)
Chlordane
57749
Pesticides/PCBs
2.4 (a)
0.0043 (b)
0.09 (a)
0.004 (b)
0.000093 (B)
0.000093 (B)
Chlorobenzene
108907
Volatile
-
-
-
-
380
890
Chlorodibromomethane
124481
Volatile
-
-
-
-
0.65 (B)
3 (B)
Chloroethane
75003
Volatile
-
-
-
-
-
-
Chloroform
67663
Volatile
-
-
-
-
260
1200
Chrysene
218019
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
1.4 (B)
2.1 (B)
Cyanide
57125
Metals, cyanide, and total phenols
22.0 (c,ee)
5.2 (d,ee)
1.0 (c,mm,ee)
(d,mm,ee)
19 (D)
270 (D)
delta-BHC
319868
Pesticides/PCBs
-
-
-
-
-
-
Dibenzo(a,h) Anthracene
53703
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
0.0014 (B)
0.0021 (B)
Dichlorobromomethane
75274
Volatile
-
-
-
-
0.77 (B)
3.6 (B)
Dieldrin
60571
Pesticides/PCBs
2.5 (a,e)
0.0019 (b,e)
0.71 (a,e)
0.0019 (b,e)
0.0000061 (B)
0.0000061 (B)
Diethyl Phthalate
84662
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
4,200
5,000
Dimethyl Phthalate
131113
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
92,000
130,000
Di-n-Butyl Phthalate
84742
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
450
510
Di-n-Octyl Phthalate
117840
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
-
-
Endosulfan
Pesticides/PCBs
0.22 (a)
0.056 (b)
0.034 (a)
0.0087 (b)
-
-
Endosulfan Sulfate
1031078
Pesticides/PCBs
-
-
-
-
9.7
10
Endrin
72208
Pesticides/PCBs
0.18 (a)
0.0023 (b)
0.037 (a)
0.0023 (b)
0.034
0.035
Endrin Aldehyde
7421934
Pesticides/PCBs
-
-
-
-
0.034
0.035
Ethylbenzene
100414
Volatile
-
-
-
-
200
270
Fluoranthene
206440
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
16
16
Fluorene
86737
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
420
610
Hexachlorocyclohexane (gamma-BHC;
							 Lindane)
58899
Pesticides/PCBs
2.0 (a)
0.08 (b)
0.16 (a)
-
15
17
Heptachlor
76448
Pesticides/PCBs
0.52 (a)
0.0038 (b)
0.053 (a)
0.0036 (b)
0.0000099 (B)
0.00001 (B)
Heptachlor Epoxide
1024573
Pesticides/PCBs
-
-
-
-
0.0000074 (B)
0.0000074 (B)
Hexachlorobenzene
118741
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
0.000051 (B)
0.000052 (B)
Hexachlorobutadiene
87683
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
0.69 (B)
4.1 (B)
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene
77474
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
150
630
Hexachloroethane
67721
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
0.11 (B)
0.13 (B)
Indeno(1,2,3-cd) Pyrene
193395
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
0.014 (B)
0.021 (B)
Isophorone
78591
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
27 (B)
110 (B)
Methyl Bromide
74839
Volatile
-
-
-
-
520
2,400
Methyl Chloride
74873
Volatile
-
-
-
-
-
-
Methylene Chloride
75092
Volatile
-
-
-
-
16 (B)
250 (B)
Napthalene
91203
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
-
-
Nitrobenzene
98953
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
55
320
N-Nitrosodimethylamine
62759
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
0.00065 (B)
0.34 (B)
N-Nitrosodi-n-Propylamine
621647
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
0.0044 (B)
0.058 (B)
N-Nitrosodiphenylamine
86306
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
0.62 (B)
0.69 (B)
Pentachlorophenol (PCP)
87865
Acid compounds
(w,c)
(v,d)
13.0 (c)
7.9 (d)
0.046 (B)
0.1 (B)
Phenanthrene
85018
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
-
-
Phenol
108952
Acid compounds
-
-
-
-
18,000
200,000
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
Pesticides/PCBs
2.0 (b)
0.014 (b)
10.0 (b)
0.030 (b)
0.00017 (E)
0.00017 (E)
Pyrene
129000
Base/neutral compounds
-
-
-
-
310
460
Tetrachloroethylene
127184
Volatile
-
-
-
-
4.9 (B)
7.1 (B)
Tol uen e
108883
Volatile
-
-
-
-
180
410
Toxaphene
8001352
Pesticides/PCBs
0.73 (c,z)
0.0002 (d)
0.21 (c,z)
0.0002 (d)
0.000032 (B)
0.000032 (B)
Trichloroethylene
79016
Volatile
-
-
-
-
0.38 (B)
0.86 (B)
Vinyl Chloride
75014
Volatile
-
-
-
-
0.02 (B, F)
0.26 (B, F)
Ammonia (hh)
Nonconventional
(f,c)
(g,d)
0.233 (h,c)
0.035 (h,d)
-
-
Chloride (dissolved) (k)
Nonconventional
860.0 (h,c)
230.0 (h,d)
-
-
-
-
Chlorine (total residual)
Nonconventional
19.0 (c)
11.0 (d)
13.0 (c)
7.5 (d)
-
-
Chlorpyrifos
Toxic pollutants and hazardous substances
0.083 (c)
0.041 (d)
0.011 (c)
0.0056 (d)
-
-
Parathion
Toxic pollutants and hazardous substances
0.065 (c)
0.013 (d)
-
-
-
-
Footnotes for aquatic life criteria in Table 240:
a. An instantaneous concentration not to be
				exceeded at any time.
b. A 24-hour
				average not to be exceeded.
c. A
				1-hour average concentration not to be exceeded more than once every three
				years on the average.
d. A 4-day
				average concentration not to be exceeded more than once every three years on
				the average.
e. Aldrin is
				metabolically converted to Dieldrin. Therefore, the sum of the Aldrin and
				Dieldrin concentrations are compared with the Dieldrin criteria.
f. Shall not exceed the numerical value in
				total ammonia nitrogen (mg N/L) given by:
Click
				  here to view image
Click here to view
				  image
g. Shall
				not exceed the numerical concentration calculated as follows: Unionized ammonia
				concentration for waters where salmonid habitat is an existing or designated
				use:
0.80 ÷ (FT)(FPH)(RATIO)
where: RATIO = 13.5; 7.7 [LESS THAN EQUALS TO] pH [LESS THAN
				  EQUALS TO] 9
RATIO = (20.25 x 10(7.7-pH)) / (1
				  + 10(7.4-pH)); 6.5 [LESS THAN EQUALS TO] pH [LESS
				  THAN EQUALS TO] 7.7
FT = 1.4; 15 [LESS THAN EQUALS TO] T [LESS THAN EQUALS TO]
				  30
FT = 10[0.03(20-T)]; 0 [LESS THAN
				  EQUALS TO] T [LESS THAN EQUALS TO] 15
FPH = 1; 8 [LESS THAN EQUALS TO] pH [LESS THAN EQUALS TO]
				  9
FPH = (1 + 10(7.4-pH)) / 1.25; 6.5
				  [LESS THAN EQUALS TO] pH [LESS THAN EQUALS TO] 8.0
Total ammonia concentrations for waters where salmonid
				  habitat is not an existing or designated use and other fish early life stages
				  are absent:
Click here to view
				  image
where: A = the greater of either T (temperature in degrees
				  Celsius) or 7.
Applied as a thirty-day average concentration of total
				  ammonia nitrogen (in mg N/L) not to be exceeded more than once every three
				  years on average. The highest four-day average within the thirty-day period
				  should not exceed 2.5 times the chronic criterion.
Total ammonia concentration for waters where salmonid habitat
				  is not an existing or designated use and other fish early life stages are
				  present:
Click here to view
				  image
where: B = the lower of either 2.85, or 1.45 x
				  100.028
												x
												(25-T). T = temperature in degrees
				  Celsius.
Applied as a thirty-day average concentration of total
				  ammonia nitrogen (in mg N/L) not to be exceeded more than once every three
				  years on the average. The highest four-day average within the thirty-day period
				  should not exceed 2.5 times the chronic criterion.
h. Measured in milligrams per liter rather
				than micrograms per liter.
i. [LESS
				THAN EQUAL TO] (0.944)(e(1.128[ln(hardness)]-3.828)) at hardness = 100.
				Conversion factor (CF) of 0.944 is hardness dependent. CF is calculated for
				other hardnesses as follows: CF = 1.136672 - [(ln
				hardness)(0.041838)].
j. [LESS THAN
				EQUAL TO] (0.909)(e(0.7852[ln(hardness)]-3.490)) at hardness = 100. Conversions
				factor (CF) of 0.909 is hardness dependent. CF is calculated for other
				hardnesses as follows: CF = 1.101672 - [(ln hard-ness)(0.041838)].
k. Criterion based on dissolved chloride in
				association with sodium. This criterion probably will not be adequately
				protective when the chloride is associated with potassium, calcium, or
				magnesium, rather than sodium.
l.
				Salinity dependent effects. At low salinity the 1-hour average may not be
				sufficiently protective.
m. [LESS
				THAN EQUAL TO] (0.316)(e(0.8190[ ln(hardness)] + 3.688))
n. [LESS THAN EQUAL TO] (0.860)(e(0.8190[
				ln(hardness)] + 1.561))
o. [LESS
				THAN EQUAL TO] (0.960)(e(0.9422[ ln(hardness)] - 1.464))
p. [LESS THAN EQUAL TO] (0.960)(e(0.8545[
				ln(hardness)] - 1.465))
q. [LESS
				THAN EQUAL TO] (0.791)(e(1.273[
											ln(hardness)]
											-
											1.460)) at hardness = 100. Conversion
				factor (CF) of 0.791 is hardness dependent. CF is calculated for other
				hardnesses as follows: CF = 1.46203 - [(ln hardness)(0.145712)].
r. [LESS THAN EQUAL TO]
				(0.791)(e(1.273[
											ln(hardness)]
											-
											4.705)) at hardness = 100. Conversion
				factor (CF) of 0.791 is hardness dependent. CF is calculated for other
				hardnesses as follows: CF = 1.46203 - [(ln hardness)(0.145712)].
s. If the four-day average chronic
				concentration is exceeded more than once in a three-year period, the edible
				portion of the consumed species should be analyzed. Said edible tissue
				concentrations shall not be allowed to exceed 1.0 mg/kg of
				methylmercury.
t. [LESS THAN EQUAL
				TO] (0.998)(e(0.8460[ ln(hardness)] + 3.3612))
u. [LESS THAN EQUAL TO] (0.997)(e(0.8460[
				ln(hardness)] + 1.1645))
v. [LESS
				THAN EQUAL TO] e[1.005(pH) - 5.290]
w. [LESS THAN EQUAL TO] e[1.005(pH) -
				4.830]
x. The status of the fish
				community should be monitored whenever the concentration of selenium exceeds
				5.0 ug/ l in salt water.
y. [LESS
				THAN EQUAL TO] (0.85)(e(1.72[ln(hardness)] - 6.52))
z. Channel Catfish may be more acutely
				sensitive.
aa. [LESS THAN EQUAL
				TO] (0.978)(e(0.8473[ln(hardness)] + 0.8604))
bb. [LESS THAN EQUAL TO]
				(0.986)(e(0.8473[ln(hardness)] + 0.7614))
cc. Nonlethal effects (growth, C-14 uptake,
				and chlorophyll production) to diatoms (
Thalassiosira
				aestivalis
and
Skeletonema costatum
) which are common
				to Washington's waters have been noted at levels below the established
				criteria. The importance of these effects to the diatom populations and the
				aquatic system is sufficiently in question to persuade the state to adopt the
				USEPA National Criteria value (36 µg/L) as the state threshold criteria,
				however, wherever practical the ambient concentrations should not be allowed to
				exceed a chronic marine concentration of 21 µg/L.
dd. These ambient criteria in the table are
				for the dissolved fraction. The cyanide criteria are based on the weak acid
				dissociable method. The metals criteria may not be used to calculate total
				recoverable effluent limits unless the seasonal partitioning of the dissolved
				to total metals in the ambient water are known. When this information is
				absent, these metals criteria shall be applied as total recoverable values,
				determined by back-calculation, using the conversion factors incorporated in
				the criterion equations. Metals criteria may be adjusted on a site-specific
				basis when data are made available to the department clearly demonstrating the
				effective use of the water effects ratio approach established by USEPA, as
				generally guided by the procedures in USEPA Water Quality Standards Handbook,
				December 1983, as supplemented or replaced by USEPA or ecology. The adjusted
				site specific criteria are not in effect until they have been incorporated into
				this chapter and approved by EPA. Information which is used to develop effluent
				limits based on applying metals partitioning studies or the water effects ratio
				approach shall be identified in the permit fact sheet developed pursuant to WAC
				173-220-060 or
				173-226-110, as
				appropriate, and shall be made available for the public comment period required
				pursuant to WAC
				173-220-050 or
				173-226-130(3),
				as appropriate. Ecology has developed supplemental guidance for conducting
				water effect ratio studies.
ee. The
				criteria for cyanide is based on the weak acid dissociable method in the 19th
				Ed. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 4500-CN I,
				and as revised (see footnote dd, above).
ff. These criteria are based on the
				total-recoverable fraction of the metal.
gg. Where methods to measure trivalent
				chromium are unavailable, these criteria are to be represented by
				total-recoverable chromium.
hh. The
				listed fresh water criteria are based on un-ionized or total ammonia
				concentrations, while those for marine water are based on un-ionized ammonia
				concentrations. Tables for the conversion of total ammonia to un-ionized
				ammonia for freshwater can be found in the USEPA's Quality Criteria for Water,
				1986. Criteria concentrations based on total ammonia for marine water can be
				found in USEPA Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Ammonia (Saltwater)-1989,
				EPA440/5-88-004, April 1989.
ii.
				The conversion factor used to calculate the dissolved metal concentration was
				0.982.
jj. The conversion factor
				used to calculate the dissolved metal concentration was 0.962.
kk. The conversion factor used to calculate
				the dissolved metal concentration was 0.85.
ll. Marine conversion factors (CF) which were
				used for calculating dissolved metals concentrations are given below.
				Conversion factors are applicable to both acute and chronic criteria for all
				metals except mercury. The CF for mercury was applied to the acute criterion
				only and is not applicable to the chronic criterion. Conversion factors are
				already incorporated into the criteria in the table. Dissolved criterion =
				criterion x CF
Metal
CF
Arsenic
1.000
Cadmium
0.994
Chromium (VI)
0.993
Copper
0.83
Lead
0.951
Mercury
0.85
Nickel
0.990
Selenium
0.998
Silver
0.85
Zinc
0.946
mm.
				The cyanide criteria are: 2.8µg/l chronic and 9.1µg/l acute and are
				applicable only to waters which are east of a line from Point Roberts to
				Lawrence Point, to Green Point to Deception Pass; and south from Deception Pass
				and of a line from Partridge Point to Point Wilson. The chronic criterion
				applicable to the remainder of the marine waters is l µg/L.
Footnotes for human health criteria in Table 240:
A. This criterion for total arsenic is the
				maximum contaminant level (MCL) developed under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
				The MCL for total arsenic is applied to surface waters where consumption of
				organisms-only and where consumption of water + organisms reflect the
				designated uses. When the department determines that a direct or indirect
				industrial discharge to surface waters designated for domestic water supply may
				be adding arsenic to its wastewater, the department will require the discharger
				to develop and implement a pollution prevention plan to reduce arsenic through
				the use of AKART. Industrial wastewater discharges to a privately or publicly
				owned wastewater treatment facility are considered indirect
				discharges.
B. This criterion was
				calculated based on an additional lifetime cancer risk of one-in-one-million (1
				x 10-6 risk level).
C. This criterion is based on a regulatory
				level developed under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
D. This recommended water quality criterion
				is expressed as total cyanide, even though the integrated risk information
				system RfD used to derive the criterion is based on free cyanide. The multiple
				forms of cyanide that are present in ambient water have significant differences
				in toxicity due to their differing abilities to liberate the CN-moiety. Some
				complex cyanides require even more extreme conditions than refluxing with
				sul-furic acid to liberate the CN-moiety. Thus, these complex cyanides are
				expected to have little or no "bioavailability" to humans. If a substantial
				fraction of the cyanide present in a water body is present in a complexed form
				(e.g., Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3), this criterion may be overly conservative.
E. This criterion applies to total PCBs,
				(e.g., the sum of all congener or all isomer or homolog or Aroclor analyses).
				The PCBs criteria were calculated using a chemical-specific risk level of 4 x
				10-5. Because that calculation resulted in a higher
				(less protective) concentration than the current criterion concentration (40
				C.F.R. 131.36)  the state made a
				chemical-specific decision to stay at the current criterion
				concentration.
F. This criterion
				was derived using the cancer slope factor of 1.4 (linearized multistage model
				with a twofold increase to 1.4 per mg/kg-day to account for continuous lifetime
				exposure from birth).
G. The human
				health criteria for mercury are contained in
				40
				C.F.R. 131.36.