Water Quality Criteria

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-030084",
  "term": "Water Quality Criteria",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "1. Levels of water quality expected to render a body of water suitable for its designated use. Criteria are based on specific levels of pollutants that would make the water harmful if used for drinking, swimming, farming, fish production, industrial processeINDOWS;C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\\n\n2. Levels of water quality expected to render a body of water suitable for its designated use, composed of numeric and narrative criteria. Numeric criteria are scientifically derived ambient concentrations developed by EPA or states for various pollutants of concern to protect human health and aquatic life. Narrative criteria are statements that describe the desired water quality goal. Criteria are based on specific levels of pollutants that would make the water harmful if used for drinking, swimming, farming, fish production, or industrial processes.\n\n3. Levels of water quality expected to render a body of water suitable for its designated use. Criteria are based on specific levels of pollutants that would make the water harmful if used for drinking, swimming, farming, fish production, or industrial processes.\n\n4. Comprised of numeric and narrative criteria. Numeric criteria are scientifically derived ambient concentrations developed by EPA or states for various pollutants of concern to protect human health and aquatic life. Narrative criteria are statements that describe the desired water quality goal.\n\n5. Water quality conditions necessary to protect aquatic plants and animals.\n\n6. Elements of state water quality standards expressed as constituent concentrations, levels, or narrative statement, representing a quality of water that supports a particular use. When criteria are met, water quality will generally protect the designated use.\n\n7. A set of enforceable requirements under the Clean Water Act that establish measurable limits for specific pollutants based on the designated use(s) of the receiving water body. Water quality criteria can be expressed as numeric limits (e.g., pollutant concentrations or mass loads) or narrative descriptions of desired conditions (e.g., no visible scum, sludge, sheens, or odors).\n\n8. Comprised of numeric and narrative criteria. Numeric criteria are scientifically derived ambient concentrations developed by EPA or states for various pollutants of concern to protect human health and aquatic life. Narrative criteria are statements that describe the desired water quality goal. [National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Glossary] Statements of the conditions presumed to support or protect the designated use or uses of a waterbody. Criteria may be narrative or numeric.\n\n9. Scientific data and guidance developed and periodically updated by EPA under section 304(a)(1) of the Clean Water Act, which are applicable to marine waters.\n\n10. Elements of State water quality standards, expressed as constituent concentrations, levels, or narrative statements, representing a quality of water that supports a particular use. When criteria are met, water quality will generally protect the designated use.\n\n11. Elements of state water quality standards, expressed as constituent concentrations, levels, or narrative statements, representing a quality of water that supports a particular use. When criteria are met, water quality will generally protect the designated use. 40 CFR 131.3..",
  "abbreviation": "WQC",
  "synonyms": [
    "Narrative Water Quality Criteria",
    "Numeric Water Quality Criteria"
  ],
  "subject": "Water",
  "references": [
    "Watershed Protection Glossary",
    "Sediment Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) Glossary; Urban Watershed Management Research Terminology",
    "RCRA Glossary of Terms; Aquatic Biodiversity Glossary; Terms of Environment",
    "National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Glossary",
    "Chesapeake Bay Glossary",
    "Total Maximum Daily Loads (303d) Glossary; Impaired Waters and Total Maximum Daily Loads Glossary",
    "Septic Systems Glossary",
    "Aquatic Biodiversity Glossary",
    "40 CFR 125.58 (CFR 2013)",
    "40 CFR 131.3 (CFR 2013); NPDES Permit Writers' Glossary; NPDES Permit Writers Manual Glossary",
    "Water Quality Toolkit Glossary; Water Quality Trading Toolkit for Permit Writers Glossary"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/water-quality-criteria/"
}