Critical Condition

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-006913",
  "term": "Critical Condition",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "1. The critical condition can be thought of as the \"worst case\" scenario of environmental conditions in the waterbody in which the loading expressed in the TMDL for the pollutant of concern will continue to meet water quality standards. Critical conditions are the combination of environmental factors (e.g., flow, temperature, etc.) that results in attaining and maintaining the water quality criterion and has an acceptably low frequency of occurrence.\n\n2. Critical conditions are represented by the combination of loading, waterbody conditions, and other environmental conditions that result in impairment and violation of water quality standards. Critical conditions for an individual Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) typically depend on applicable water quality standards, characteristics of the observed impairments, source type and behavior, pollutant, and waterbody type.",
  "subject": "Water",
  "references": [
    "Sediment Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) Glossary",
    "Chesapeake Bay TMDL Glossary"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/critical-condition/"
}