Water Quality Standards

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-030094",
  "term": "Water Quality Standards",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "1. State-adopted and EPA-approved ambient standards for waterbodies. The standards prescribe the use of the waterbody and establish the water quality criteria that must be met to protect designated uses.\n\n2. State-adopted and EPA-approved ambient standards for water bodies. The standards prescribe the use of the water body and establish the water quality criteria that must be met to protect designated uses.\n\n3. Standards that define the goals for a water body by designating its uses, setting criteria to protect those uses, and establishing provisions to protect water bodies from pollutants.\n\n4. State or federal law or regulation consisting of a designated use or uses for the waters of the United States, water quality criteria for such waters based upon such uses, and an antidegradation policy and implementation procedures. Water quality standards protect the public health or welfare, enhance the quality of water and serve the purposes of the Clean Water Act.\n\n5. A set of enforceable requirements under the Clean Water Act that include classification of receiving waters in accordance with their federal or state designated use(s), use-based water quality criteria that establish measurable limits for specific pollutants, and anti-degradation provisions to ensure that water quality is maintained or improved.\n\n6. Standards that set the goals, pollution limits, and protection requirements for each waterbody. These standards are composed of designated (beneficial) uses, numeric and narrative criteria, and antidegradation policies and procedures.\n\n7. Provisions of state or federal law that consist of a designated use or uses for the waters of the United States and water quality criteria for such waters based on such uses. Water quality standards are to protect the public health or welfare, enhance the quality of water, and serve the purposes of the CWA.\n\n8. Water Quality Standards are state and tribal-adopted and EPA-approved standards for waterbodies that include designated uses and water quality criteria.\n\n9. The foundation of the water quality-based pollution control program mandated by the Clean Water Act. Water Quality Standards define the goals for a water body by designating its uses, setting criteria to protect those uses, and establishing provisions such as antidegradation policies to protect water bodies from pollutants.",
  "abbreviation": "WQS",
  "subject": "Water",
  "references": [
    "Watershed Protection Glossary; Federal Land Management in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Glossary",
    "Aquatic Biodiversity Glossary; Terms of Environment",
    "Chesapeake Bay Glossary",
    "Total Maximum Daily Loads (303d) Glossary; Impaired Waters and Total Maximum Daily Loads Glossary",
    "Septic Systems Glossary",
    "Watershed Planning Glossary of Terms",
    "NPDES Permit Writers Manual Glossary",
    "How's My Waterway Glossary",
    "Aquatic Resources Awareness Course for Real Estate Appraisers Glossary"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/water-quality-standards/"
}